Yo.

[Infi]

But what does it mean?

 

 

 

Where did it come from?

 

 

 

Huh.

[Guest GhostRanger]

In the English language, yo has become a common interjection that originated decades ago in a dialect spoken in the Philadelphia area. It is often interchangeable with the word "hey," as in "Yo, what's up?" or, "Yo! Wait for me!" While the word can also stand alone as a greeting, like the word "hey," it also has a wide range of meanings that depend on the tone, context, and situation in which it is used. Examples:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If someone is bothering another person, "Yo!" becomes the equivalent of saying "Hey! Stop it," or "Knock it off!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If someone accidentially bumps into another person, the expression "Yo!" could be interpreted as "Hey! Watch it," or "What in the world!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If someone did something that amazes or shocks another person, the word yo is like laughing or an expression of amazement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In more recent times the word has spread into hip-hop or gangsta culture. A parody of such usage forms the basis for a comic exchange between the animated characters played by Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorsese (Shark Tale, 2004), which can be viewed here. The word's origin predates these recent uses, as is evidenced by the words of Rocky Balboa (played by Sylvester Stallone).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yo, Adrienne, it's me, Rocky..." Rocky Balboa (Rocky, 1976)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Yo, Adrienne. We did it!" Rocky Balboa (Rocky II, 1979)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

During the late 1990s / early 2000s, the word became very popular in rap songs, often chanted in the background between lines, tying in with the hip-hop and gangsta theme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Korean Americans also use the term as an expression for disbelief; e.g., "Yoooooo...."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

:P

[kaibani]

yo. a mystical word, with a ring to the end. a mystery that has mystified us humans for more than a thousand decades...but seriously, some english french australian dude came up with it. He yelled that to this kid who wasn't paying attention when he was in a pinch. Since then that kid started saying that in school, and soon austrialians moved to other countries and finally spread the "yo" throughout the world.

[Guest GhostRanger]

yo. a mystical word, with a ring to the end. a mystery that has mystified us humans for more than a thousand decades...but seriously, some english french australian dude came up with it. He yelled that to this kid who wasn't paying attention when he was in a pinch. Since then that kid started saying that in school, and soon austrialians moved to other countries and finally spread the "yo" throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope...Philadelphia...

[kaibani]

 

yo. a mystical word, with a ring to the end. a mystery that has mystified us humans for more than a thousand decades...but seriously, some english french australian dude came up with it. He yelled that to this kid who wasn't paying attention when he was in a pinch. Since then that kid started saying that in school, and soon austrialians moved to other countries and finally spread the "yo" throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope...Philadelphia...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you are being decieved...what i say is true. not your little fairy tale.

[AThousandLies]

 

 

yo. a mystical word, with a ring to the end. a mystery that has mystified us humans for more than a thousand decades...but seriously, some english french australian dude came up with it. He yelled that to this kid who wasn't paying attention when he was in a pinch. Since then that kid started saying that in school, and soon austrialians moved to other countries and finally spread the "yo" throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope...Philadelphia...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you are being decieved...what i say is true. not your little fairy tale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really doubt your sanity.

[kaibani]

 

 

 

yo. a mystical word, with a ring to the end. a mystery that has mystified us humans for more than a thousand decades...but seriously, some english french australian dude came up with it. He yelled that to this kid who wasn't paying attention when he was in a pinch. Since then that kid started saying that in school, and soon austrialians moved to other countries and finally spread the "yo" throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope...Philadelphia...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you are being decieved...what i say is true. not your little fairy tale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really doubt your sanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

me too, but then again something inside me tells me what i say is true.

[Bubsa]

I just thought it's an edited version of "you". Over time, the u got dropped.

[Vape]

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=define:yo

 

 

 

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/yo

 

 

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo

[Arcticrunite]

 

 

 

yo. a mystical word, with a ring to the end. a mystery that has mystified us humans for more than a thousand decades...but seriously, some english french australian dude came up with it. He yelled that to this kid who wasn't paying attention when he was in a pinch. Since then that kid started saying that in school, and soon austrialians moved to other countries and finally spread the "yo" throughout the world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nope...Philadelphia...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you are being decieved...what i say is true. not your little fairy tale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really doubt your sanity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

who hasnt?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

heh ive been told ive done a good "yo adrienne" irl, shrug, i dunno, good movie though, very inspirational, just let it die though, 2 were enough, 5-6 is beating a dead horse :(

[Antrune]

I just thought it's an edited version of "you". Over time, the u got dropped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exactly

[uk_swat]

Yo Sup homes!

[rocketman089]

Yo Sup homes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello, What is going on my friends?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All this jive talk makes me want to watch Airplane again.