Órale

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Órale is a common interjection in Mexican slang [1] with varying connotations, including an affirmation that something is impressive, an agreement with a statement (akin to "word"), or a simple greeting. The word literally means "pray to him" in Spanish [2] [3] (it is the imperative form of the verb orar with the indirect object pronoun le attached). In some parts of México Órale is used as "hurry up".

The Mexican usage may be actually a variation of ahora le ... which means "now to it ..." as Spanish-speaking people often omit some letters from words in fast speech, similar to the English formation of contractions (like can + not = can't). In this context, órale along with híjole [4] or jíjole are used indistinctively to express a state of alarm, surprise or danger.

As a greeting, the word was used by Cheech Marin in his 1987 film Born in East L.A. in the phrase Órale vato, ¡wassápenin! meaning Hello man, what's happening? a popular phrase used by Mexican Americans who have taken the gitano word vato from northern Mexico slang to mean man.

Órale was the inspiration for the title of the Beck 1996 album Odelay; the English pronunciation of Odelay is similar to proper Spanish pronunciation of Órale.

The phrase was also popularized in professional wrestling (as a de facto catch-phrase) by Konnan and Eddie Guerrero.

Órale was used as a song title on the Los Lonely Boys second album, Sacred, released in 2006. "Everything is all right, so I say Órale".

Órale! (along with the vulgar slang variation used by some, oral sex!) is also used in Guatemala to mean See you later!.

On The George Lopez Show, George will say this to agree with someone (the episode "THe Art of Boxing")or to show amazement ("Sabes Quake") or disgust ("George Rocks to the Max and gets Diss-band-ed"). In the episode "George Joins the Neighborhood Wha-tcha and Raises the Vigil-ante", After he brings Max home and he tries to run upstairs, george goes "órale, jailbait", as if he were saying "hold it, jailbait." Also, in the episode "George Rocks to the Max and gets Diss-band-ed", when Ernie comes in dressed in make-up and weird clothing, he says "órale, Axel Gross" meaning "come on, Axel Gross".

Also the word Órale is used by the shop guy in San Diego on the game Midnight Club:3 Dub Edition quite frequently. He often says "Órale esse" which in this context he is talking about your nice car and is giving a compliment.