The term “OK” has a fascinating and somewhat humorous origin, with several theories about how it came into use. The most widely accepted origin story traces back to the early 19th century in the United States.
Abbreviation of “Oll Korrect” (All Correct)
The most widely supported theory is that “OK” is derived from a humorous misspelling of “all correct” as “oll korrect.” This was part of a trend in the 1830s where people would intentionally misspell words and then abbreviate them. “OK” first appeared in print on March 23, 1839, in the Boston Morning Post, in the context of a joke.
Political Usage
Another factor that popularized the term was its use during the 1840 U.S. presidential election. Martin Van Buren, a candidate, was nicknamed “Old Kinderhook” after his hometown of Kinderhook, New York. Supporters formed the “OK Club,” which helped to spread the term more widely.
Other Theories
There are several other, less widely accepted theories about the origin of “OK.” Some suggest it might have come from the Choctaw word “okeh,” meaning “it is so,” or from African languages, brought over by enslaved people. Another theory links it to a Greek phrase “ola kala,” meaning “all is well.”
Despite these alternative theories, the “oll korrect” origin is the one most linguists and historians agree on.
