# Oi oi oi oi! (punks) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781 "2001-02-16T19:12:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/1 "2001-02-16T19:12:45Z")
Why do punks say “Oi” (or Oy?) so much? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/2 "2001-02-16T19:26:05Z")
You expect them to refer to themselves in the third person? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/3 "2001-02-16T19:41:44Z")
I said Oi, not Oui. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/4 "2001-02-16T19:49:08Z")
You really have to wonder, considering the “Oi” crowd included all those neo-Nazi skinheads, although “Oy” with a y has always been the quintessential Yiddish expression. ---
**Author:** ![Turpentine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Turpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/5 "2001-02-16T20:17:46Z")
Jomo Mojo, you are going to offend somebody really soon. Punks are NOT Nazis… At least, not the kind that say Oy. The Dead Kennedys have a patch that lots of punks have, it has a circle and cross through a swatstika and it says “Nazi Punks Fuck Off” Funny- People still equate neo-nazis with True Punks. It’s as if they can’t read the damn thing right on the punks arm that has the red cross-out circle through the swatstika. And most punks I hang out with tend to be very interested in current events and very anti-racist. But I’ll let somebody go and bit eoff your head for that remark. As for the OP, that’s easy. Punks say OY OY because the Ramones did it. ---
**Author:** ![cmetzb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmetzb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmetzb)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2001, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/6 "2001-02-16T22:03:14Z")
When I lived in England (15 years ago) Oy. was kind of like saying Hey! At least that’s what I always thought. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/7 "2001-02-17T01:09:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cmetzb \* > **When I lived in England (15 years ago) Oy. was kind of like saying Hey!** Same in Australia. I’d only do it with friends and people that I knew very well - otherwise it’s rude; like poking somebody to get their attention. I must admit, when I saw the title of this thread, the familiar patriotic chant sprang to mind … \*\*Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! Oi! Oi! Oi! \*\* Maybe we’re just a nation of punks and yobbos at heart. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![socpro69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@socpro69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socpro69)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/8 "2001-02-17T01:12:17Z")
The following answer is admittedly over-simlified, but here goes: It comes from Oi! music, the street level punk rock which followed the original, more commercial, wave of bands. According to Jefferson (Stinky) Turner, lead singer of the Cockney Rejects - the band that essentially started Oi! music - people just picked up on what they were saying on stage. “Oi”, as has been mentioned, is basically a fairly common alternative to “hey” in Britain. The Rejects were a pretty hard edged band with hard edged fans. There were a lot of fights at their shows. They were/are huge West Ham United fans and touring always brought violence. When fights would break out Stink would always say things like “Oi, break it up”, “Oi, leave it out” and the like. Next thing they knew people started associating the expression with the band and the music they played. Skinheads started showing up at their shows with Oi! tattoos etc. As a title it was pretty much embraced since the style of music was definitely distinct from New Wave punk. The Rejects best known song is probably “Oi! Oi! Oi!”. Soon a series of Oi! compilation albums were released by (I think) EMI. Bands that have followed in this style still use the word to describe themselves, and fans still say it, no matter how odd it sounds coming out of a North American mouth. If you’ve got any more questions let me know… but now I’ve gotta get back to work. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/9 "2001-02-17T01:13:07Z")
“Oi” (nor Oy… that’s yiddish) is essentially cockney slang for “Hey!” It’s also a form of punk rock embraced by skinheads (racist, non-racist, trad, SHARP, RASH, and RAC alike.) Racist Oi generally goes outta its way to let you know its racist, and non-racist Oi generally goes outta its way to let you know that its non-racist. I find it rather dull. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/10 "2001-02-17T01:27:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kayeby \* > \*\* > Maybe we’re just a nation of punks and yobbos at heart. 🙂 \*\* With bands like the Cosmic Psychos and [the Onyas](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/x.dll?p=amg&sql=B202709), you most certainly are. My band (RIP) played with the Onyas on their last US tour… a great bunch of dudes, though I was too drunk to talk about anything but Bon Scott. Oz has produced some of the best fucking rock androll in the world over the last 30 years… Radio Birdman, the Saints, X, the Rejects, the Birthday Party, Celibate Rifles, Chosen Few, Fun Things, etc… ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/11 "2001-02-17T01:54:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kayeby \* > I must admit, when I saw the title of this thread, the familiar patriotic chant sprang to mind … > \*\*Aussie! Aussie! Aussie! > > Oi! Oi! Oi! \*\* > > Maybe we’re just a nation of punks and yobbos at heart. 🙂 \*\* A bit of trivia. Apparently that particular patriotic Australian chant is a corruption of Oggie! Oggie! Oggie! Oi! Oi! Oi!, a patriotic English chant. It’s beeen traced back to at least WWI in England, and was used as a chant by military units from the SW of England during military competitions. The men from these units referred to themselves as ‘Oggies’, apparently a slang name for a Cornish pastie. So yeah, we’re definitely a nation of punks and yobbos at heart, but we get to blame it all on the Poms. Isn’t it great? Once more: Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!.. ---
**Author:** ![socpro69](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@socpro69](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/socpro69)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/12 "2001-02-17T03:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > \*\*Oz has produced some of the best fucking rock androll in the world over the last 30 years… Radio Birdman, the Saints, X, the Rejects, the Birthday Party, Celibate Rifles, Chosen Few, Fun Things, etc… \*\* By etc… I hope you are referring to Rose Tattoo. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/13 "2001-02-17T04:14:03Z")
Spot on, socpro69 ! Oi ! is pretty much the less talented end of the punk spectrum (if that isn’t an oxy – Gordon is a - moron) and very London in origin. Talking of which……….Socpro69 – are you in anyway related to Sham 69 ? Thinks it’s about time I dug out a little Jimmy Pursey !! > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gaspode \* > So yeah, we’re definitely a nation of punks and yobbos at heart, but we get to blame it all on the Poms. Isn’t it great? > \*\* You’ll have to remind me what it is you don’t blame on the Poms 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wevets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9a140/32.png) [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/14 "2001-02-17T06:18:52Z")
Incidentally, “oi” is apparently the pronunciation of the Korean word for cucumber. Makes everything clear, doesn’t it? 😉 BTW, what’s a pom? ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/15 "2001-02-17T07:50:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by socpro69 \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by black455 \* > > \*\*Oz has produced some of the best fucking rock androll in the world over the last 30 years… Radio Birdman, the Saints, X, the Rejects, the Birthday Party, Celibate Rifles, Chosen Few, Fun Things, etc… \*\* > > By etc… I hope you are referring to Rose Tattoo. \*\* But of course. And uh, Midnight Oil… Sike. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/16 "2001-02-17T08:35:35Z")
They are all saying “Hi” in Portugese. ---
**Author:** ![Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrison_s_Lament)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/17 "2001-02-17T08:47:00Z")
I lived in England and Oi! Was frequently used to call people. It’s like saying “Hey, you!” or something to that effect. And since punk was born in England, go figure. Turpentine, I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments on the so called “Nazi Punk” losers. — G. Raven ---
**Author:** ![Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Morrison\_s\_Lament](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morrison_s_Lament)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/18 "2001-02-17T08:49:36Z")
I lived in England and Oi! Was frequently used to call people. It’s like saying “Hey, you!” or something to that effect. And since punk was born in England, go figure. Turpentine, I couldn’t agree more with your sentiments on the so called “Nazi Punk” losers, they are indeed a very different breed from the original Punk. — G. Raven ---
**Author:** ![Gaspode](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/aeb1de/32.png) [@Gaspode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaspode)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/19 "2001-02-17T10:59:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by wevets \* > \*\*BTW, what’s a pom? \*\* A person of English extraction. Often prefaced with the words ‘bloody whingeing’. (Just joking). It’s just a slang term for English people, like yank, aussie, kiwi etc. Australians will never use the correct name for something or someone if a vaguely distasteful colloquialism is available. It’s supposedly a corruption or ‘pomegranite’ and originated from the British habit of using citrus juice on board their ships to prevent scurvy. The same derivation and meaning as ‘Limey’ basically. ---
**Author:** ![black\_rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f19dbf/32.png) [@black\_rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/black_rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2001, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781/20 "2001-02-17T14:18:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Morrison’s Lament \* > \*\*And since punk was born in England, go figure. > \*\* Uh-oh…[sub]stooges[/sub]I’ll[sub]stooges[/sub]save[sub]stooges[/sub]it[sub]stooges[/sub]for[sub]stooges[/sub]GD[sub]stooges[/sub]or[sub]stooges[/sub]the[sub]stooges[/sub]Pit. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oi-oi-oi-oi-punks/54781.md?page=2)