Órale

Órale (Spanish: "listen up") is a common interjection in Mexican slang used commonly as a greeting, akin to the English expression "what's up?" The term has varying connotations, including an affirmation that something is impressive, an agreement with a statement (akin to "word") or distress. According to the Brief Dictionary of Mexicanisms found on the web site of the Mexican Academy of the Language, the word’s origin is a shortening of “ahora”, meaning “now”, with the added suffix “-le”, which is a grammatical expletive – a word part that occupies a position without adding to the sense. Compare “ándale” and “épale”.

In media and pop culture

• As a greeting, the word was 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 from northern Mexico slang to mean man.

• The phrase was also popularized in professional wrestling (as a de facto catch-phrase) by Konnan and Eddie Guerrero.

• Óoorale! is the name of a popular Mexican gossip magazine, known for its pornographic content and forged photographs.^[1]

• Beck's 1996 album, Odelay, uses a phonetic English rendering of 'órale' as its title.

• Stand-up comedian Gabriel Iglesias uses the term frequently, referencing his Mexican heritage.

• The term is used often in the 1992 film American Me.

References