Almanac: The first use of "OK"

Published 2024-03-23
March 23, 1839 marked the first recorded use of the phrase "O.K." – slang for "all correct" – in the pages of the Boston Morning Post. The catch-phrase caught on quickly, and we're OK with that. Charles Osgood reports in this "Almanac" originally broadcast in 2008.

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All Comments (18)
  • @jacobaccurso
    I remember watching a movie set in Medieval times and an actor replied, “OK” to a request.
  • @semipenguin
    My favorite OK is from The Chipmunk Song. Alright you Chipmunks Ready to sing your song? I'll say we are Yeah, let's sing it now! Okay, Simon? Okay Okay, Theodore? Okay Okay, Alvin? Alvin? Alvin! Okay!
  • @sofiaalgiz2820
    more of this kind of report, ok . thank you for a great job ,creating a fun show.
  • I placed a shout-out to "OK" in my series of books, lol. 🙂 It's hard to explain, but everything is "OkaFoi".
  • @GenRN
    I guess it should have been AC for all correct. OK?
  • Hey, let's not forget Oklahoma! They're OK also. 😂 Their previous state motto was "Oklahoma is OK".
  • @MemphiStig
    Don't forget that book "I'm OK -- You're OK." It was real big when I was a kid. Probably wouldn't fly these days.
  • @tjwash5118
    I wonder if soomeday k will be in the dictionary. I mean like OMG!
  • @JJONNYREPP
    Almanac: The first use of "OK". 23.3.24. C K what? .......