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The Weird Origin of the Word “OK” | Smartest Year Ever (June 27, 2025)
Where did the most recognizable word on Earth actually come from? In today’s episode, Gordy traces the bizarre, ironic, and political backstory behind “OK”—a word that’s now used in dozens of languages, from aviation to text messages to global diplomacy.
But its true origin? Not what most people think. Before “OK” was universal, it was an inside joke, a campaign slogan, and a punchline in 1830s Boston. Gordy unpacks the strange history, rival origin theories, and how two little letters conquered the planet.
Don’t miss this one—it's about more than a word. It’s about how a joke can accidentally reshape the way the world communicates.
Sources:
Metcalf, A. (2010). OK: The Improbable Story of America's Greatest Word. Oxford University Press.
Crystal, D. (2010). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Read, A. (1938). The first stage in the history of “O.K.” American Speech, 13(1), 5–24.
Read, A. (1964). The folklore of “O.K.” American Speech, 39(1), 5–18.
Liberman, A. (2008). Word Origins... and How We Know Them. Oxford University Press.
#WordOrigins #linguistics Music thanks to Zapsplat. #LanguageFacts #DailyFacts #Etymology #WordNerd #LanguageHistory
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By GordyWhere did the most recognizable word on Earth actually come from? In today’s episode, Gordy traces the bizarre, ironic, and political backstory behind “OK”—a word that’s now used in dozens of languages, from aviation to text messages to global diplomacy.
But its true origin? Not what most people think. Before “OK” was universal, it was an inside joke, a campaign slogan, and a punchline in 1830s Boston. Gordy unpacks the strange history, rival origin theories, and how two little letters conquered the planet.
Don’t miss this one—it's about more than a word. It’s about how a joke can accidentally reshape the way the world communicates.
Sources:
Metcalf, A. (2010). OK: The Improbable Story of America's Greatest Word. Oxford University Press.
Crystal, D. (2010). The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Language (3rd ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Read, A. (1938). The first stage in the history of “O.K.” American Speech, 13(1), 5–24.
Read, A. (1964). The folklore of “O.K.” American Speech, 39(1), 5–18.
Liberman, A. (2008). Word Origins... and How We Know Them. Oxford University Press.
#WordOrigins #linguistics Music thanks to Zapsplat. #LanguageFacts #DailyFacts #Etymology #WordNerd #LanguageHistory