Israel Silverman wrote:
As for the claims that "joo" can mean "you",
I would like someone to explain why anyone
would choose the letter "j" when the sound
for "y" is intended. I can see "joo" for "zoo",
because the sound matches, but it simply
doesn't fit to use a "j" where "yue" is the
intended sound. Are teenagers *that* dumb?

I have heard "joo" used in oral conversation years ago to mean "you."

I still think it's unlikely in this context.

I remember growing up in Northern Jersey the local accent would frequently
prounce "you" as "joo" most noticible after "did" such as "Did you wash the
car?" would sound like "Didjoo wash the car?" I recall one of the nuns at
school correcting us and adding, "leave the jews alone, they aren't hurting
anyone."

Curiously enough as I was typing this a movie ad came on where a guy
comments on Mexican Judo, explaining it as, "Judo-n't know who you're
messing with."

To check to see if there was some chat-speak definition I was unaware off, I
did a search on "joo definition" and the only relevant responses where
similar to the one below:

Joo
1. [n] Last name, frequency rank in the U.S. is 22933.


Though some elaborated slightly, adding phrases such as "very rare" or
giving examples of people named Joo.

I suppose it is possible that it is an attempt simulate an accent in
writing, but I personally would agree that it is unlikely in this context.
I've been wrong before -- frequently.


Best,
Bill