Oorah Explained

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Oorah is a battle cry common in the United States Marine Corps since the mid-20th century. It is comparable to hooah in the US Army and hooyah in the US Navy and US Coast Guard. It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm.

 

Origins

 

 

There are several potential sources from which the word "oorah" originated.

 

  • The term may have originated from early use in Australia.  In WWII injured US Marines were treated in northern Australia. The term 'oorah' is local slang for 'farewell' or 'until then'.

 

 

 

Culture

 

"Oorah" was originally a Comanche war-cry that meant "All-right" or "Let's go!" in the Comanche Language.

 

Owing to its relatively recent adoption by Anglo-American military culture, it is less common for Marines who served in the Vietnam War or earlier to be familiar with "Oorah!", but most post-Vietnam Marines and Vietnam War Marines who continued to serve after the war will have learned it throughout their careers.

 

A couple of shortened versions of "Oorah!" can come out as a short, sharp, monosyllabic guttural "Er!" or "Rah!"

 

Another phrase similar to "Oorah" is the bark, also commonly used by Marines, due to the nickname "Devil Dogs" from the Battle of Belleau Wood in World War I.

 

Other uses