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I've always felt that Kemosabe comes from the Spanish, "Que mas sabe" (One who knows more) as a counter to the Spanish "Tonto" (moron or fool). Since the Spanish is spoken rapidly, perhaps that makes a more logical explanation to reinforce the relationship between white and non-white, prevalent at the time The Lone Ranger was written and produced.

It is my understanding that this phrase is a mispronunciation of Quien No Sabe - meaning "who does not know" Also, The Lone Ranger called Tonto "tonto" which means "stupid" or "foolish" in Spanish. So, essentially they were both insulting each other. Honestly this makes more sense than saying Quien Sabe sounds like ke-mo sah-bee. Where would the "mo" sound be coming from? Unless The Lone Ranger had hot mashed potatoes in his mouth this does not make sense. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.32.169.136 ( talk) 05:36, 3 May 2013 (UTC) reply

I just stumbled across season 1, episode 1 of the TV series (1949). When Tonto found the wounded Ranger Reed, he noticed a medallion on a chain around his neck and said "You Kemo Sabe." In a flashback, Tonto told of a young Reed who nursed him back to health after his village was shot up. Tonto gave him the name Kemo Sabe, which he said meant "Trusty Scout," and slipped a ring on his finger. The insignia on the ring matched the insignia on Reed's medallion. So that's the meaning of Kemo Sabe as explained in the TV episode. It is confirmed by the script writer's son here: https://www.old-time.com/misc/kemo.html Tarantulas ( talk) 03:06, 21 January 2024 (UTC) reply

Strange. I've always taken it for granted that Kemosabe is just a synonym for Tonto: "Que no sabe".-- 94.222.121.161 ( talk) 13:00, 14 May 2010 (UTC) reply

That's a commonly shared assumption. For that reason, it would be appropriate for the editor who wants to exclude content relating the phrase "Que no sabe" and variations thereo, and kemosabe, really should explain his/her rationale--within the article.--Froid 18:52, 12 May 2011 (UTC)

I always assumed it as a reference to the Lone Ranger's identity being secret. quien sabe ? - who knows? Ian — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.99.78.217 ( talk) 11:41, 14 August 2011 (UTC) reply

I always thought it was a pseudo-Indian phrase (like the pseudo-Latin in the Harry Potter books) based on Spanish '(el) que mas sabe', "he who knows the most." - William Porter (Ph.D., Classics) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.186.169.121 ( talk) 19:44, 9 September 2011 (UTC) reply

Without researching I've always thought it was a made up word with Latin/Hispanic/French root - "He who knows me" As in the French construction Ke - "HE" Mo - "to me" (thus KEMO is "He who (to me)" Sabe - "knows" (savvy, etc)

As in a French construction "Vous me donnez" (Give me)

That makes sense, but we won't really know unless the author tells/told us what was meant. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Cyberiante ( talk • contribs) 04:24, 22 November 2011 (UTC) reply

This article looks really good right now. It could absolutely use some additions as well as some revisions. But as it is right now it's a one of the best layed out article's I've read in a long time — Preceding unsigned comment added by 96.248.13.240 ( talk) 06:18, 28 June 2012 (UTC) reply

Coolish. I just "landed" (in the truest sense of the word) up here when reading Jean Heller's novel "Maximum Impact" and wondered what this strange term means. Well, there you have it, in said novel, "Kemo Sabe" is cited as well. -andy 77.191.202.86 ( talk) 21:18, 26 July 2012 (UTC) reply

Kemosabe does NOT mean, wrong brother, and when Tanto said so in the 2013 movie he was just busting his partner's chops, giving him a hard time. It was said for comic effect. I don't know why people don't understand that and take it as an actual alternate meaning of the word.

That's one way to look at it. Where is your citation or your proof. It was comical in the film, but could it also been meant to be a double entendre. After all, the whole story is fiction, why would a fictional translation within the film be so wrong? I'm just saying don't be so quick to ignore the "wrong brother" explanation in the film. Why not at least make a reference to it in this section as being used in the film. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.90.215.195 ( talk) 01:42, 11 June 2019 (UTC) reply

For anyone who does not know the show, one or a few examples of how this term was used would be great. Thanks, Maikel ( talk) 20:41, 14 November 2014 (UTC) reply

One version of "Waterloo" had the following verse: "The Lone Ranger and Tonto rode the trail / catching outlaws and putting them in jail.

Could someone explain what on earth "Waterloo" is or means, in this context?

i just looked up the song. "scouting song". never heard it, so i have to ask: is it sung to the TUNE of the abba song?

in any case, "meet one's waterloo" is to have a crushing defeat. in the abba version the woman(?) is singing about how the man(?) has "defeated" her -- as in, "i don't want to love you, but am i powerless against it".

the scouting version appears to be a fanciful list of people meeting disaster/defeat/death. 2601:19C:527F:A680:2958:4BAD:F531:63F7 ( talk) 00:49, 9 August 2022 (UTC) reply

Movie Reference Information

In the 2008 comedy smash hit StepBrothers, Dale (played by John C Reilly) refers to his brother Brennan (Will Ferrell) as Kemosabe — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:2C7:8300:C33A:5C16:75D6:DCE2:5BB8 ( talk) 16:47, 12 July 2016 (UTC) reply

It is more accurate (and more polite) to use the term "Native American" in this context - Indians are people who come from India. This should really be changed. Are there any objections? Wdford ( talk) 13:57, 17 October 2017 (UTC) reply

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Qui no sabe- which I think is more or less Spanish for “he who doesn’t know?” (ignorant one) ELSchissel ( talk) 16:58, 25 May 2021 (UTC) - ah, I see that’s covered above, the iphone Wikipedia app was making access difficult. Sorry. reply

Just watched The Office S8E24 (approx. 6:50), and Toby uses the name Kimosabe. Was wondering if this should be added to the article in some way, and how it were to be referenced. Thanks. Momsemann ( talk) 20:22, 13 August 2023 (UTC) reply