“What if soy milk is just regular milk introducing itself in Spanish?” is a popular food joke. The Spanish word “soy” means “I am.” although the word “milk” is “leche” in Spanish.
 
Conan O’Brien‘s late night television talk show included the comedy sketch “In the Year 2000” on October 18, 2000, and one person predicted:
 
“A college student will take his first puff of marijuana, and will realize that ‘soy milk’ in Spanish means ‘I am milk.’ He will laugh…for 6 solid hours.”
   
Comedy Central made this into a Sarah Palin joke on November 7, 2008:
 
“Sarah Palin is so dumb, she thinks soy milk means ‘I am milk.’”
 
“What if soy milk is just regular milk introducing itself in Spanish?” was cited on Twitter on September 10, 2013.
   
“Soy sauce in Spanish means ‘I am sauce‘“ and “‘Soybean’ is a Spanish word which roughly translates as ‘I am bean’”  are related jokes.
     
   
Google Groups: alt.fan.conan-obrien
I am Milk
Tuttle
10/19/00
heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh-heh.  I can’t stop laughing. It’s true! It does mean I Am Milk. Soy Milk = I am Milk. God damn, holy crap, I can’t stop laughing.
   
Minnesota Fats
10/19/00
Just have ta mention… Soy Milk does not mean ‘I Am Milk’ in Spanish. ‘Milk’ means nothing in Spanish. Milk is “leche”.
   
Google Groups: alt.fan.conan-obrien
WLNR - Oct 18 (Tart Danve)
wiggie
10/19/00
Wiggie’s Late Night Recap (Experimental Insomniac Edition)
October 18, 2000
-Bob: “A college student will take his first puff of marijuana, and will realize that ‘soy milk’ in spanish means “I am milk”...he will laugh…for 6 solid hours”
 
Twitter
Alex N.
‏@boogerfunk
*IN THE YEAR 2000* Potheads everywhere will realize ‘Soy Milk,’ translated in Spanish, means…‘I am milk!’
10:43 AM - 10 Apr 2007
 
Democratic Underground
matcom
Fri Nov-07-08 07:11 PM
Sarah Palin Is So Dumb, She Thinks Soy Milk Means “I Am Milk”
just heard on Comedy Central
 
Twitter
Lord BEEF
‏@lordbeef
#wikileaks reveal bungled meeting with Spain after the Americans realized “soy milk” means “I am milk” in Spanish and couldnt stop laughing
1:56 PM - 28 Nov 2010
 
Google Books
Crazy Things Parents Text:
Laughing at the Expense of Your Parent’s Texts
By Stephen Miltz and Wayne Miltz
Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks Inc.
2011
Pg. 155:
SOY MILK FROM DAD: Does soy milk mean I am milk in Spanish?
 
Twitter
marissa aguilar
‏@Marissaaabitch
What if soy milk is just regular milk introducing itself in Spanish?
8:53 PM - 10 Sep 2013
 
The Huffington Post
10 Of The Corniest Food Jokes On The Planet
By Alison Spiegel
Posted: 07/02/2014 9:43 am EDT Updated: 07/02/2014 9:59 am EDT
(...)
“What if soy milk is just regular milk introducing itself in Spanish?”