Órale is a common interjection in Mexican Spanish slang.[1] It is also commonly used in the United States as an exclamation expressing approval or encouragement. The term has varying connotations, including an affirmation that something is impressive, an agreement with a statement (akin to "okay"), or to signify distress. The word's origin is from the verb orar (to pray), with the added suffix “-le”, which is a grammatical expletive – a word part that occupies a position without adding to the sense,[2] e.g. “ándale” and “épale”.
In media and pop culture
- As a greeting, the word is used by Cheech Marin in his 1987 film Born in East L.A. in the phrase "Órale vato, ¡wassápenin!", meaning "All right, man! What's happening?", a popular phrase used by Mexican Americans who have taken the gitano word vato[citation needed] from northern Mexico slang to mean "man".
- Used as a slang term by Edward James Olmos in the 1988 American drama film, Stand and Deliver.
- The phrase was popularized in professional wrestling (as a de facto catch-phrase) by Konnan and later Eddie Guerrero.
- Óoorale! is the name of a popular Mexican gossip magazine, known for its pornographic content and forged photographs.[3]
- Beck's 1996 album Odelay uses a phonetic English rendering of "órale" as its title.
- Stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesias uses the term frequently, referring to his Mexican heritage.
- The term is used often in the 1992 film American Me.
- The term is used in the 1993 film Blood In Blood Out.
- The term is used in the 1998 video game Grim Fandango.
- The term is used in the 2013 video game Guacamelee!.
- Órale is the name of the Grammy-nominated 7th album by Mariachi Divas de Cindy Shea.
- In George Lopez's eponymous ABC sitcom which originally aired from 2002 to 2007, his titular character shouts "Órale!" in many situations.
- In the FX original series Sons of Anarchy, "órale" is frequently said by the Byz Lats during conversation.
- In the AMC original series Breaking Bad, "órale" is frequently said by Tuco Salamanca.
- In the FX series Snowfall, the term “órale” is used repeatedly by Mexican drug trafficker Gustavo Zapata.
- In the Netflix series Queen of the South, the term “órale” is frequently used by Pote Galvez, a Mexican cartel soldier and trusted friend of Teresa Mendoza.
- In the 2022 video game Modern Warfare II, Alejandro Vargas, the leader of a group with the Fuerzas Especiales (Mexican Special Forces) uses the term "órale" often when talking to and commanding his team.
- Title of a song by El Vez, the Mexican Elvis
References
- ^ "Dictionary listing". lema.rae.es.
- ^ Academia.org Brief Dictionary of Mexicanisms, Mexican Academy of the Language at the Wayback Machine (archived September 15, 2010)
- ^ "SECRETS OF OORALE!". Davidlida.com. Retrieved 2008-09-28.