The meaning of 'OK': This is what the abbreviation stands for
'OK' or 'Okay' is ubiquitous in international usage. But only a few know the original meaning. In our article you can read all about the true meaning of the acronym OK.
The origin of the acronym OK
Linguists from all over the world have tried for years to figure out the meaning of the acronym 'OK'. Various theories and myths have emerged. The true meaning of the abbreviation was proven by the linguist Allen Walker Read in 1964:
- The acronym OK dates from the 1840s. A time when it was a trend to misspell terms according to their sound and to make abbreviations from them.
- For example, the abbreviations 'KG' for 'know go', i.e. 'no go' or 'OW' for 'oll write', i.e. 'all right'.
- The abbreviation 'OK' stands for 'oll correct', meaning 'all correct', which means 'everything correct'. It was first used in 1839 by a newspaper editor in Boston.
- Most of these abbreviations have not survived the decades and have quickly lost their importance.
- Not so with 'OK': At the time the acronym 'OK' was created, Martin Van Buren was President of the United States.
- His nickname "Old Kinderhook" led to the slogan "He's Old Kinderhook and he's oll correct."
- Thanks to this slogan, the abbreviation became world famous and is indispensable today.
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