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What's the "Joe Shmoe" of different cultures? Or the "John/Jane Smith"? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 year ago by ech@lemm.ee to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

108 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Explanations/etymology also appreciated!

For Joe Shmoe, it means a very average or below average person. It's a derivation of the practice of using "shm-" to dismiss something (eg "Practice shmactice. We're already perfect").

And "John Smith" is meant to be the most average name or person imaginable, so they have the "most common" (citation needed) first and last name as well.

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[–] babi99@lemm.ee 20 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Does this came from arabic influence?

To refer someone without a name or generic name we sometime say Fulan bin Fulan meaning someone the son of someone

[–] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

A lot of Spanish words and culture come from Arabic influences, the iberic peninsula was under control of arabs on the VIII century.

[–] jsveiga@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago

Wow! It most certainly came from that!

TIL, thanks! (brazilian here).

[–] jsveiga@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

Just checked in a Brazilian Portuguese real made from trees dictionary, indeed comes from arabic (indicated by the "ár fulân")