A new word - gubernatorial

@JudyEv (382312)
Rockingham, Australia
April 14, 2026 3:54am CST
I found a new word – gubernatorial, which means relating to a governor, particular from the USA. I read the word in an article about Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell of California. Following multiple sexual assault allegations, Swalwell has announced he will resign from Congress. I quote: [i[The decision caps a swift political fall for the seven-term politician, who had been seen as a frontrunner in California's gubernatorial race before dropping out as the allegations surfaced, claims he has continued to deny.[/i] Soon after the resignation, Texas Republican, Tony Gonzales, advised he would not seek re-election. He had admitted an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. I am making no judgements here but I needed to give some background to the word. So, is gubernatorial a new word to you? The photo is mine.
17 people like this
16 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (502622)
• Italy
14 Apr
Another word that comes from Latin "gubernator", meaning governor. Our Californian user Deborah told me about Eric Swalwell.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
It seems I might be the only one that hasn't heard of the word.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502622)
• Italy
15 Apr
@JudyEv May be it's more common in the US than in Australia.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
@LadyDuck We don't have governors which would partly account for me not knowing the word.
1 person likes this
snowy
@snowy22315 (209009)
• United States
14 Apr
Used slot here
3 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (209009)
• United States
15 Apr
@JudyEv Who runs your territories?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
@snowy22315 Australia has six states and two self-governing territories but none of them have a governor as leader. The Governor-General represents the King (of England) but has no political power and representing the Governor-General in each state is a Governor. None of these are voted in which I guess explains why we don't see the word here. The Federal government has a Prime Minister and each state has a Premier which I guess would equate to your Governor.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
So I'm learning. We don't have governors so maybe that accounts for the fact that I've never heard it before.
2 people like this
Amber
@AmbiePam (120913)
• United States
14 Apr
I’m familiar with the word. It’s used a lot when elections come calling. It’s funny to say though!
3 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49766)
• India
14 Apr
I have read and heard this word before. Yet I think its usage is more restricted or can we say "specific" to news circulating in and out of US. May be it is used elsewhere. May be just US and Canada. I think in sometime in the past, many people used to say "Gubernor" instead of "Governor" and "Guber..." stayed alive in this way. Just a guess !
2 people like this
Ptrikha_2
@ptrikha_2 (49766)
• India
15 Apr
@JudyEv Yes indeed that is the case. There are many such words already out in the world. We would still be unaware of many.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
I haven't seen it used here but that doesn't mean that it hasn't been.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (135847)
• Marion, Ohio
14 Apr
As I am over here we hear it a lot.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
Interesting and it's used in the Philippines too.
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (222610)
• United States
14 Apr
That's a very common word here.
3 people like this
DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
16 Apr
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
So far there is only one other person who doesn't know the word. lol @LindaOH @augusta123 @GardenGerty @AmbiePam @RasmaSandra @Jessica @FourWalls @DianneN @Looeyville Excuse the one comment but it was that or say the same thing a dozen times.
5 people like this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
14 Apr
Nope, I knew the word. The sky in your picture is certainly lovely.
1 person likes this
Toni
@toniganzon (77227)
• Philippines
15 Apr
It isn't because it's a common word here and my uncle used to be the governor here for so many years. We often hear "gubernatorial race" over the radio and on tv
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
That's interesting. I guess we don't have governors so never have a use for the word.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (98026)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
14 Apr
I have heard it before but not in a long while, like during election time, the gubernatorial race.
1 person likes this
JB_girl
@sol_cee (38669)
• Philippines
15 Apr
Since ‘governor’ is gobernador in Tagalog, ‘gubernatorial’ makes sense. Do you have governors in your government?
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr
We have a Governor-General and Governors in each state but they are representatives of the Queen and have nothing to do with our political parties.
1 person likes this
Jessica
@JESSY3236 (22244)
• United States
14 Apr
yes. I saw headlines about Swalwell and Tony on Bing yesterday..
1 person likes this
Xavier Bage
@franxav (14591)
• India
14 Apr
Though it's not a new word for me , it's not a word often used. In India, the press and TV channels make do with other words.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
I don't recall it being used in Australia before.
Thelma
@thelme55 (79323)
• Germany
14 Apr
That is the first time I heard about that word. Thanks for the heads up.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
You and I are about the only ones for whom it's a new word.
1 person likes this
Thelma
@thelme55 (79323)
• Germany
15 Apr
@JudyEv So it seems. At home, I only speak German besides speaking Tagalog and Bisaya with my Filipino friends here. Actually, I only use English language online.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
@thelme55 You know about three more languages than me!
1 person likes this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (34847)
•
15 Apr
Yes A new word to me Swalwell Something just occured to me No I better not....
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Apr
Better not indeed.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382312)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Apr
1 person likes this
Jimbo45
@Ineeddentures (34847)
•
15 Apr
@JudyEv You guessed Didn't you
1 person likes this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86765)
• United States
14 Apr
No, we hear gubernatorial a lot here in a country with a lot of governors. I do wonder how they got that word out of governor, and why it’s not governatorial.
1 person likes this
DianneN
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
14 Apr
I read both articles. That is a very common word in the USA.
1 person likes this