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 (http://www.ubuntu.com/products/whatisubuntu):

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 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=239560):

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 (http://www.ubuntu-trading.com/).
Although, I must admit I do prefer the Natural Wine (http://www.kwv.co.za/brands/view/32) alot more (yummy goodness).

For others, it means Developing Schools and Healthy Hospitals in South Africa (http://www.ubuntufund.org/).

Jokingly, it also stands for "Can't Install Debian (http://diveintomark.org/archives/2006/06/26/essentials-2006)" (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! (http://xkcd.com/424/)

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

Regards
Iain

[Unix_Slayer]

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