What is the word foo?

What is the word foo?

Foo (pronounced FOO) is a term used by programmers as a placeholder for a value that can change, depending on conditions or on information passed to the program. Foo and other words like it are formally known as metasyntactic variables.

Is Foo a Chinese last name?

Foo is a common last name found among Overseas Chinese communities around the world. In fact, “Foo” is the transliteration of several different Chinese surnames. Its meaning varies depending on how it is spelled in Chinese, and which dialect it is pronounced in.

What ethnicity is foo?

Chinese

What is the origin of Foo?

The use of foo in a programming context is generally credited to the Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC) of MIT from circa 1960. These were general purpose buttons and were often re-purposed for whatever fun idea the MIT hackers had at the time, hence the adoption of foo and bar as general-purpose variable names.

What do Americans call a surname?

There is no distinction in American English. Both last name and surname are used, but last name is more common.

Why do Americans call people by their first name?

Because in the United States we believe in equality, and although we might not always practice it, we do always preach it. We do have situational titles like with religious leaders we often call them Title First Name like Pastor Shirley or Father Tom. And with teachers we tend to call them Mr/Mrs last name.

Why do Americans say last name?

Most Americans have their Surname in the last position, and this is so ingrained in our culture that we use “last name” when we probably mean “surname.”

Why do Americans use first names?

Addressing people by their first name is now the norm in corporate America (though not in the rest of the world — to the ongoing consternation of business travelers). Using first names to address colleagues, clients, and bosses at work is good for both young and old, junior staffers and senior executives alike.

Is it rude to address someone by their first name?

Technically, it’s not appropriate to use a person’s first name, without permission. The right thing to do is use an honorific (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr. …) until the person says, “Please call me (first name).”