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Why do we say ‘OK’?
Linguists say the term likely began as a jokey abbreviation and later gained wider dictionary acceptance after years of competing origin theories.
- Linguists trace the origin of "OK" to 1839, making the word about 180 years old according to the Oxford English Dictionary. This versatile term functions as a noun, verb, adjective, conjunction, or interjection.
- Experts believe "OK" likely emerged as "oll korrect," a jokey way of saying "all correct" during the early 19th century when humorous abbreviations were in vogue. Young people similarly played with language using "KG" for "no go."
- Other theories suggest the term derives from "Old Kinderhook," a nickname for former U.S. President Martin Van Buren, or alternatively originates from Choctaw, a Native American language. Both remain competing etymological possibilities.
- Over time, "OK" has competed with variations like "alright" and "all right," while its meaning evolved similarly to "silly," which shifted from meaning "happy" to "foolish." Such semantic changes are common in English.
- The Oxford English Dictionary continues expanding with new terms, yet "OK" remains a standard entry. For Scrabble players, the dictionary confirms the two-letter version is perfectly acceptable in gameplay.
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Why do we say ‘OK’?
The word ‘OK’ has only been around for 180 years, but it’s become the most spoken word on the planet.
·Calhoun, United States
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Total News Sources17
Leaning Left4Leaning Right4Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution38% Center
Bias Distribution
- 38% of the sources are Center
38% Center
L 31%
C 38%
R 31%
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