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I won't even mention the "origin" of pwned here. (I mean, who the fuck cares... "O" is next to "P" on a keyboard. It was going to happen eventually). Unlike silly misspellings like teh, the reason why "pwned" became popular, is because it looks and sounds good.

If you look at the phonetics of the original, owned, it has a very round, relaxed sound to it. The sharper "pwned", however, is fast and furious, like the cracking of a whip, the firing of a silenced gun, or a motherfucking laser weapon.

PEW! PEW! ... pwned.

Because of it's explosive sound, "pwned" will mainly be used where someone is defeated or humiliated in a very sudden and convincing manner. The slower, more elaborate "owned" will more oftenly describe domination over time.

"pwned" is a very good word. It's phonetic similarity to fast, impressive finishes seems well suited to videogames. Because the word sounds like what it does, it will probably stay with us for a long time.
the dorks who try to make up the origin of the word 'pwned', were pwned by this article.
pwned by thePTS July 21, 2009
Related Words
a common typo of owned that is used in the same way, or more sarcasticly to mock 1337 speak. If you think pwned can be attributed to a single source you are retarded.
retard1: pwned originated with quake
retard2 no it started with warcraft
nonretard: Its a fucking typo, like 'teh'or 'pron'. I you were older than 11 you'd know typos happened even before 1337 made tham 'cool'.
otherguy:you faggots just got pwned!
pwned by pwner June 19, 2005

pwned cake 

1. Much like pwned but a whole cake of pwnage.
2. A term used to to declare one's superior skills. Most widely used on the internet.
3. When pwned simply isn't enough.
you want a slice of some pwned cake?
pwned cake by Gullible December 4, 2003

pwned in the face 

any type of total domination to the face
headshot
melee
cum blasted
punched
kicked
etc
(PWNED IN THE FACE)
pwned in the face by MaraDank December 23, 2009

Belly pwned 

When you have been pwned by your own belly.
When you are playing an online video game. Your headset cord then gets stuck between your stomach fat and your pelvic area. This pulls your cord from the controller. At this piont you can not hear anyone and they can not hear you.
Belly PWNED!!!
Belly pwned by Rollin91s February 2, 2010
Commonly used word within the furry community that refers to the past tense act of jerking off.
Fox: Are you horny?
Raccoon: Sorry, just pawed.
Pawed by Foxcoon November 30, 2019