# "O.K."???

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k/9204>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 26, 2000, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k/9204 "2000-03-26T23:40:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EmmyLou](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ad7895/32.png) [@EmmyLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmmyLou)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k/9204/1 "2000-03-26T23:40:00Z")

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I have always wondered, where did the popular saying, “O.K.” originate from? And what does it stand for?  
Please help,  
Michelle R.  
Campbell, CA

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k/9204/2 "2000-03-26T23:47:00Z")

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According to the dictionary, it’s an abbreviation of _oll korrect_, alteration of _all correct_. Probably from the German _Alles korrect_?

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“I must leave this planet, if only for an hour.” – Antoine de St. Exupéry

Are you a turtle?

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**Author:** ![Paul\_Coleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dfb087/32.png) [@Paul\_Coleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_Coleman)\
**Post date:** [March 26, 2000, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k/9204/3 "2000-03-26T23:58:00Z")

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I’ve heard two, but can’t proclaim any overwhelming confidence in either;

1. “Old Kinderhook” was the nickname of US President Van Buren, and the initials were used liberally during his campaign, took on a new meaning, became a catch all phrase yadda yadda yadda
2. Word of acknowledgement from African dialect brought over during the horrors of the slave trade, overheard by english speakers in response to plantation directives, found its way into everyday useage as the bastardized “OK”

Like I said, not overwhelming evidence for either. I’ve always had my doubts.

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**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\
**Post date:** [March 27, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/o-k/9204/4 "2000-03-27T00:05:00Z")

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Cecil Adams on the origin of [O.K.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_250.html) .

Sheesh. Sometimes I think I ought to link to the “Buy the Books” section rather than the archived columns.

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[NYC IRL III](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum4/HTML/006163.html)  
is on April 15th. Do you have what it takes?