Dude, the History Behind the Word ‘Dude’ Is Wild

For any child of the ’80s or ’90s , the word “dude” conjures up a specific vibe: a laid-back, California surfer – skater — perhaps drinking a white Russian — unbothered (or maybe unaware) of the pressing concerns of the world around him.

It was also a word that defied specificity — used as a greeting, an agreement, a commiseration or an exclamation.

“Dude” was everywhere.

But it wasn’t a new word back then — not even close. By the 1980s, the term “dude” had been around for at least 100 years. In this week’s Word of the Week , NPR explores the long and winding road “dude” took from New York City to the surfers in California.

Where did ‘dude’ come from?

Circa 1880: A man being assisted by his servant in the mode of dressing. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

The exact origin o