What does Ubuntu stand for?

[jras20]

After using Ubuntu for a 2 weeks now (got out of Vista) I still dont know what Ubuntu stands for. Is it a coffee? I see on some of the headers of user names cups of Ubuntu, or is it a drink?
Thanks.

[gfg]

Taken from a South African dictionary thingie.

ubuntu - A Zulu word, literally meaning “humanness.” Ubuntu is a social and spiritual philosophy serving as a framework for African society. Its essential meaning can be conveyed using the Zulu maxim “umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”—meaning, in essence, “a person is a person through other persons.” The practice of ubuntu is fundamentally inclusive, involving respect and concern for one's family and one's neighbors. It also implies respect for one's ancestors, in a deeper spiritual sense. Ubuntu defines the individual as a component of a greater (inclusive) collective whole, and it stresses social consciousness and unity. (Most dramatically, ubuntu stands diametrically opposite to the concept of apartheid.)

[nick_h]

From the Ubuntu website:

Ubuntu is an African word meaning 'Humanity to others', or 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. The Ubuntu distribution brings the spirit of Ubuntu to the software world.

For the coffee thing see here:

There tends to be a close connection between geeks and coffee, so that's where the theme came from. Yes, we know not everyone likes coffee, but it's just a silly thing.

[MJWitter]

Wiki explains it nicely,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubuntu_(ideology)
This ideology is used as the basis for Ubuntu Linux(sharing and community).

Hope this helped,
MJ

[jras20]

Cool thanks now I know

[ibuclaw]

Ubuntu means alot of things to alot of people...

For me Ubuntu means Fairtrade Cola.
Although, I must admit I do prefer the Natural Wine alot more (yummy goodness).

For others, it means Developing Schools and Healthy Hospitals in South Africa.

Jokingly, it also stands for "Can't Install Debian" (citing essentials no.1), since Ubuntu is really just a very simplified version of it.

And this joke is taken further by indicating that Ubuntu is infact Windows with a customised theme!

But in layman terms...
It just means share.

Regards
Iain

[Unix_Slayer]

Ubuntu means freedom from Windows. That's all that matters.....