Hurray
/hʊˈreɪ/noun
An exclamation used to express joy, approval, or encouragement.
Did you know?Modern English hurray is likely a variant of hurrah, a cheer tied to older cries of urging or rallying rather than a neat dictionary “happy word.”
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern English
English
hurray / hurrah
“A shouted cheer, rallying cry, or expression of triumph”
17th–18th Century
English
hurrah
“A cry used to encourage, salute, or acclaim”
Earlier Modern Period
English
huzza / huzzah
“A similar cheering exclamation used in applause or battle-cry contexts”
Origin uncertain; possibly imitative or from a sailors’/soldiers’ cry
Unknown
huzza / hurrah
“A vocative shout of excitement or urging, with no securely proven single root”