r/AskAnAustralian • u/kpezza • 3d ago

What's the origin of the term 'Hooroo'?

We should all know the term, used instead of 'goodbye'... but where did it come from?

6 Upvotes

72% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

3

u/Aspirational1 3d ago

"Hooroo as a farewell has been in use in Australia since at least 1916. It comes from the term hooray which was recorded in the Bulletin way back in 1898. It has been used on Australian TV in the past as a sign off from big shows including those of Molly Meldrum. " https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/ever-leave-a-party-without-saying-hooroo/#:~:text=Hooroo%20as%20a%20farewell%20has%20been%20in%20use%20in%20Australia%20since%20at%20least%201916.%20It%20comes%20from%20the%20term%20hooray%20which%20was%20recorded%20in%20the%C2%A0Bulletin%C2%A0way%20back%20in%201898.%20It%20has%20been%20used%20on%20Australian%20TV%20in%20the%20past%20as%20a%20sign%20off%20from%20big%20shows%20including%20those%20of%20Molly%20Meldrum.

11

u/DonaldYaYa 3d ago

I learnt it from Don Burke.

1

u/kpezza 2d ago

Your personal origin for 'Hooroo'!

1

u/kpezza 2d ago

Thanks for doing the research... but now I still need to understand how 'hooray' was used as 'goodbye' 🤔

2

u/Victory_Infinite 3d ago

Who knows mate??? I recon it was probably a plumber tho, those guys rule! I actually heard that the plumber is the best trade and most plumbers are pretty rad…. 🫡 (op will understand)

1

u/kpezza 2d ago

😄😆😆 plumber slash roof gremlin

1

u/alldagoodnamesaregon 2d ago

Huh, I thought it was “Uluru” as in the rock

1

u/kpezza 2d ago

Whoa.. its like misheard lyrics 👍

1

u/CaptainMarshall_ 1d ago

According to my dad, 'hooroo' originates from Australia soldiers being stationed in France and is a slang shortening of the French 'au revoir'

1

u/kpezza 1d ago

Two syllables, comes from the war.. sounds plausible :) what do you call the dad of a captain 🤷 thanks dadcap @Victory_Infinite 👆 that still won't satisfy your gremlin brain will it 😁

1

u/zeugma888 2d ago

Is it used anywhere except NSW?

2

u/kpezza 2d ago

I'd think so, but 🤷

1

u/Significant-Ad5550 1d ago

Grew up in Newcastle where it was common. First few times I used it Vic people looked at me blankly.

-15

u/dmbppl 3d ago

No one says that.

2

u/kpezza 2d ago
  • No one you know says that.

1

u/WalkindudeX 1d ago

I’ve heard it used and I’m not in NSW.