Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

a-okay

/ˌeɪ.oʊˈkeɪ/

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: 5.06 in modern English

Syllables: A-o-kay
IPA: /ˌeɪ.oʊˈkeɪ/

12

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

In perfect order; thoroughly acceptable.

Colloquial

adj

Alternative letter-case form of A-okay.

Example Sentences

"1952, advertisement by Midvac Steels. "The Golden Age of Advertising - the 50s", p. 57, Ed. Jim Heimann, Taschen 2005. A-OK for tomorrow's missile demands."
"1970, Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley, Tarkio, "Oh Mommy" It says right there in the constitution, It's really A-okay to have a revolution, When the leaders that you choose Really don't fit their shoes."
"Any KOA is A-OK as long as I'm with you."

Etymology

First attested in 1952 in the US, popularized in the 1960s by John A. Powers as NASA's public affairs officer for Project Mercury: the "voice of Mercury Control". Intensive form of okay, presumably "all [systems] okay".

Origin

First known use: First attested in 1952

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˌeɪ.oʊˈkeɪ/
British English: /ˌeɪ.əʊˈkeɪ/

Usage

Colloquial

Inflected Forms

more A-okay (comparative) most A-okay (superlative) AOK (alternative) A-OK (alternative)

Synonyms

okay a-ok

Rhymes With

they me way may day say all-day away play day by day today pay

Questions

How do you pronounce a-okay?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˌeɪ.oʊˈkeɪ/.
What does a-okay mean?: In perfect order; thoroughly acceptable.
Where does a-okay come from?: First known use: First attested in 1952.

How to pronounce a-okay

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “a-okay”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌeɪ.oʊˈkeɪ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “a-okay”.
Repeat and practice — Say “a-okay” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.