Duh
/dʌ/noun
An interjection expressing that something is obvious or that another person has said something foolish.
Did you know?“Duh” was popularized in American English during the 1940s and later became strongly associated with comic characters portrayed as slow-witted, especially through 1970s and 1980s popular culture.
Etymological Timeline
Uncertain; before the 1940s
English
duh
“An expressive sound used to imitate hesitation, stupidity, or a failure to grasp something obvious; its exact origin is uncertain.”
1943
American English
duh
“An attested interjection used in American popular culture to mock someone for stating the obvious.”
1940s–1950s
American English
duh
“A comic vocalization associated with supposedly foolish or slow-witted speech.”
1970s
American English
duh
“A widely recognizable slang interjection expressing sarcastic disbelief or condescension.”
1980s–1990s
Modern English
duh
“A mainstream informal response meaning “obviously” or “of course.””