Dutch teenagers using 'Jew' in positive context (illustration)
Photo: CD Bank
Dutch teens use 'Jew' to mean 'cool'
Linguist professor hears high schools students in Leiden using word 'jood' in positive connotation, confirming what he read earlier on Internet forum
VIDEO - Over the years, many words have been used by young people to mean "cool," but now teenagers in the Netherlands are reportedly using an unlikely new addition – the word "jood," which also means "Jew" in Dutch.
Linguist Professor Marc van Oostendorp from Leiden University wrote on his blog that high schools students in Leiden have been using "jood," confirming what he had earlier read on a Dutch-language Internet forum.
Video courtesy of jn1.tv
On the fabled Urban Dictionary site, known for its ability to keep up with all manners of new phrases and words, "jood" is referenced as meaning "cool" and receives a mixed reaction, with nine people recognizing the usage as accurate, while a further 21 express doubt over the definition.
However, the use of the word "Jew’" is controversial in any context, and indeed, following the pro-Jewish chanting from Ajax Amsterdam football supporters of "we are the super Jews" during games, the club was sued by BAN, a Dutch anti-racism campaign group.
