First Gouda pun?

September 26, 2006 3:09 PM

What was the first documented pun on the word "Gouda"?

I've recently taken to eating a lot of Gouda cheese, because I like the taste. When talking about this with others, I often run into obvious puns because "Gouda" sounds like "good." This led me to wonder how early such puns started appearing. From what I've read, Gouda was named after the town of Gouda, which was founded in 1272. I assume the first English speaker to encounter Gouda made a pun, but what is the first documented example of this happening? The earliest I've found so far is 2003, which is pretty weak.

posted by scottreynen to society & culture (15 comments total)

I don't see how this can possibly be answered.
posted by trey at 4:46 PM on September 26, 2006

It must have been whey earlier than that.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 5:13 PM on September 26, 2006 [1 favorite]

I often run into obvious puns because "Gouda" sounds like "good."

Actually, Gouda sounds like "How-da" as in "Gouda fuck do you expect us to know?". you're welcome.
posted by riotgrrl69 at 5:25 PM on September 26, 2006

Hi, havarti?

Thats gouda


(first time I heard it was on an episode of Frasier fwiw)
posted by skinnydipp at 5:46 PM on September 26, 2006

Oh skinnydip, I camembert! Brie nice.
posted by oxford blue at 5:47 PM on September 26, 2006

I don't see how this can possibly be answered.

I was hoping maybe someone had an Etimology of Puns or History of Cheese in Literature book or something. Just to clarify, I'm not interested in any new puns, only very old puns, and I don't care what sound forms the basis of the pun, as long as it includes the word "Gouda."
posted by scottreynen at 5:49 PM on September 26, 2006

And it's 'gow-da' in British English, so I'm thinking you cheddar thought before asking this.
posted by holgate at 5:52 PM on September 26, 2006

You munsters! Be nice. It's edam hard question to answer.
posted by ORthey at 6:09 PM on September 26, 2006 [1 favorite]

Say Gouda! SAY IT!
-Mayor Quimby
posted by emelenjr at 7:02 PM on September 26, 2006

Sorry, scottreynen, we don't know jack.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:02 PM on September 26, 2006

My grandfather, who grew up speaking Dutch, pronounces it "khow-da" [xaʊdə].

(My understanding is that the letter spelled "g" used to be pronounced as a [g], but I think that was quite a long time ago.)
posted by nebulawindphone at 7:37 PM on September 26, 2006

My mother is Dutch and gets a bit tweaked at how we mispronounce Gouda. She actually worked in the town where the cheese is produced and, as nebulawindphone said, the correct pronunciation is more like "khow-da" (with a guttural 'g', no real 'k' sound).

Great cheese, though! Hope you've enjoyed it smoked as well.
posted by PsychoKitty at 8:16 PM on September 26, 2006

"Just to clarify, I'm not interested in any new puns"

Havarti some heart. I just swiss me and my kind could be accepted. Be stilton my heart; and lets hope we don't get stuck in limburger.

Gosh, I am fondue of a bad pun. You all must think I'm crackers though. Well, I don't have to listen to you all wine.
posted by oxford blue at 8:48 PM on September 26, 2006

Great cheese, though! Hope you've enjoyed it smoked as well.

I'm pretty sure some of the people in this thread have.
posted by mmoncur at 12:56 AM on September 27, 2006

Thatsa gouda cheese, yea? You wanta some more?

Of course, totally off in reality, since Americans don't pronounce things correctly.

Good you seek only old puns. But also be sure to seek old gouda. The aged stuff is world-class good! Sadly, South Africans make alleged 'gouda', but it is yellow and tasts a bit like cheddar.
posted by Goofyy at 1:54 AM on September 27, 2006