As the country’s state leaders convene for the National Governors Association conference, many are left wondering: why is the word “gubernatorial” associated with anything official at all?
At the NGA conference held in Chicago this past weekend, a group of bipartisan governors worked themselves into a huff, declaring, “We don’t want to be fucking ‘Gubers.’ We’re god damn governors for christ’s sake. We sold our lives for this shit. How did nobody consider this before today?”
Derived from the Latin “gubernator,” meaning “governor,” the word has managed to carve out a unique niche in the English language. It’s an adjective that often precedes phrases like “race,” “debate,” or “campaign.” But its adoption raises eyebrows, as its unwieldy pronunciation and lack of everyday use contrast with the simplicity of the word it modifies.
Governors from all corners of the nation are engaged in spirited discussions about the persistence of “gubernatorial” in official lexicons. Some argue it lends gravitas to the proceedings, while others find it archaic and claim it sounds really fucking stupid.
