OK - Okay

OK or okay is perhaps one of the most used words in the world.

Its origins are thought to be held in a president’s nickname and a Scottish expression.

In 1840 Martin Van Buren ran as the Democratic candidate for US President. His nickname was Old Kinderhook, after the town where he was born. OK gained wide acceptance in the 1840 presidential election when it was taken over as an abbreviation for “Old Kinderhook”.

What is believed to be the earliest printed reference to OK was in the Boston Morning Post, in March, 1839. It was then used as an abbreviation for Orl Korrect.

Other theories suggest the word has its origins in African Mandingo languages, where the word oh-keh means all right. This then entered English through African Americans.

Most likely all of these, plus the similarity to the Scottish och aye has meant that this useful catchcry has spread all around the world.