"Woof" is gay slang used by guys to describe an attractive rugged manly guy. (i.e. You would say so and so is pretty "woof", or you could just say "woof" to the guy.) It can also mean "I dig you." etc.. It is usually used to, or when describing someone who is masculine but gay. It is the equivalent to how guys used to whistle at a woman in the 70's, but it is normally directed to another man, and the man is generally beefy and rugged.
"Woof" in gay terms is the canonical gay bear sound of approbation. It's not a dog's 'woof', rather the breathy 'wuf' a bear makes when showing interest.For those coming up to speed on Gay Subcultures 101, "Bears" (& Cubs, Muscle Bears, Daddy Bears, Polar Bears, Wolves, Otters, and other assorted furry menagerie) are the big hairy friendly lugs of the gay community. They range in size and shape but are typically identified by their Paul Bunyan attire and hirsute face.There are Bear Clubs ("Mass Bay Bears") for Bears & fellas who are into Bears to get together to socialize. Bear Magazines, offering everything from porn ("Bear", 'American Bear", "Euro Bear", "Grizzly", etc.) to lifestyle tips ("A Bears Life"). Bear websites ("Bear411") for online congregating. Bear Events ("Out of Hibernation", "Int'l Bear Rendezvous", "Bear Trek"), and of course Bear Bars ("The Alley Bar"). There's even an annual "Mr. New England Bear" title holder.The phrase "woof" and term "Bear" are widely recognized in the popular culture these days with references popping up everywhere from "The Simpsons" to "The New Republic". Indeed "Bear" has gone internationial with "Bear", "Orsi", "Orso" etc. groups organizing & fraternizing around the globe.Locally resources to check out are:The Mass Bay Bears, Eastern Massachusett's Bear Clubhttp://www.MassBayBears.orgThe Alley Bar, a popular downtown Boston Bear barhttp://www.TheAlleyBar.com
Often the "Bear" culture claims more ownership of gay culture and gay terminology than is actually theirs. "Wuf" is a "bear call" as described while "woof" CAN simply mean a call of attraction IE: You're hot, I like you etc. It's a term that connotes an involuntary attraction to another guy, usually "masculine" or more "normal" or "str8" appearing guy to either a gay appearing guy or another "normal/regular/str8/masc" (whatever term u like) appearing gay guy.
So please Bears, have your culture but you don't have to own all the masculine gay terminology!
I recently uploaded a photo of my brother-in-law and nephews onto Facebook, and one of my friends "woofed" at him - he called my sister in a panic, thinking that somebody thought he was ugly... My sister and I had fun explaining to him what it meant to be "woofed" at by a gay guy...I think he felt better after that!!
Comments
re: Woof
"Woof" is gay slang used by guys to describe an attractive rugged manly guy. (i.e. You would say so and so is pretty "woof", or you could just say "woof" to the guy.) It can also mean "I dig you." etc.. It is usually used to, or when describing someone who is masculine but gay. It is the equivalent to how guys used to whistle at a woman in the 70's, but it is normally directed to another man, and the man is generally beefy and rugged.
re: Woof
down in the south if someone says "woof" they just think it's some idiot imitatung a dog...
re: Woof
"Woof" in gay terms is the canonical gay bear sound of approbation. It's not a dog's 'woof', rather the breathy 'wuf' a bear makes when showing interest.For those coming up to speed on Gay Subcultures 101, "Bears" (& Cubs, Muscle Bears, Daddy Bears, Polar Bears, Wolves, Otters, and other assorted furry menagerie) are the big hairy friendly lugs of the gay community. They range in size and shape but are typically identified by their Paul Bunyan attire and hirsute face.There are Bear Clubs ("Mass Bay Bears") for Bears & fellas who are into Bears to get together to socialize. Bear Magazines, offering everything from porn ("Bear", 'American Bear", "Euro Bear", "Grizzly", etc.) to lifestyle tips ("A Bears Life"). Bear websites ("Bear411") for online congregating. Bear Events ("Out of Hibernation", "Int'l Bear Rendezvous", "Bear Trek"), and of course Bear Bars ("The Alley Bar"). There's even an annual "Mr. New England Bear" title holder.The phrase "woof" and term "Bear" are widely recognized in the popular culture these days with references popping up everywhere from "The Simpsons" to "The New Republic". Indeed "Bear" has gone internationial with "Bear", "Orsi", "Orso" etc. groups organizing & fraternizing around the globe.Locally resources to check out are:The Mass Bay Bears, Eastern Massachusett's Bear Clubhttp://www.MassBayBears.orgThe Alley Bar, a popular downtown Boston Bear barhttp://www.TheAlleyBar.com
Woof vs. Wuf
Often the "Bear" culture claims more ownership of gay culture and gay terminology than is actually theirs. "Wuf" is a "bear call" as described while "woof" CAN simply mean a call of attraction IE: You're hot, I like you etc. It's a term that connotes an involuntary attraction to another guy, usually "masculine" or more "normal" or "str8" appearing guy to either a gay appearing guy or another "normal/regular/str8/masc" (whatever term u like) appearing gay guy.
So please Bears, have your culture but you don't have to own all the masculine gay terminology!
My brother-in-law got woofed at...
I recently uploaded a photo of my brother-in-law and nephews onto Facebook, and one of my friends "woofed" at him - he called my sister in a panic, thinking that somebody thought he was ugly... My sister and I had fun explaining to him what it meant to be "woofed" at by a gay guy...I think he felt better after that!!
J