'Hu-ah'?
What is this "hu-ah"? The spelling is from the sub-titles, but it sounds more like "wuh" when the soldiers say it all together in various places in the movie.
shareC'mon ... some of you all-American guys must know what it means and the history of it?
shareWhat they are saying is "hooah" also spelled "hoo-ah". You might be familiar with in from other Army (not Marines, who say oorah) movies, especially Scent of a Woman, I believe it is also in Black Hawk Down.
It can be pronounced a variety of ways, including hoo-ah, ooa, or in a very sarcastic hoo-ah.
Thought to be derived from either hua (head up ass) or hua heard, understood, acknowledged.
It can be used for almost anything, except for no. Like saying affirmitive, yes, good morning, hi, motiated.
The 'phrase' is very versatile, and can be used in a variety of ways. Often it can be "yes" or "will comply" for example
"Are you ready to kill the enemy?" hooah.
It can also be used as an adjective
"That captain is very hooah" to imply that he is very tactically proficient.
Thanks, Aerakade for your informative answer :-)
shareA brief tutorial on military slang:
"Hoo-ah!" U.S. Army
"OOO-RAH!" U.S. Marines
"HooYah!" U.S. Navy
"Cool, guys!" U.S. Air Force
;)
Refusal to believe does not negate the truth.
I have never heard the Navy sound off with HooYah, but sometimes with oorah (marines are department of the navy after all)
and the Air Force says
"Air Power!"
Never heard them sound off with "cool, guys!", maybe that's a squadron specific thing?
Little bit of "intra-service" picking. I'm ex Army, and almost brainwashed to give the Air Force a hard time, all in good fun.
Refusal to believe does not negate the truth.
I'm a bigger fan of "chair power". Our Bn sounded off with that one day as the Air Force folks were present, it was not well recieved, but yes, all in good fun.
shareTHAT, my friend is Hilarious!
Refusal to believe does not negate the truth.
I was under the impression that the phrase was "HUA" and meant "heard, understood, acknowledged." I grew up around the military but I really have no idea whether I picked that up from GIs, movies, or just imagined.
Does anyone know, or am I way off base here?
I no longer know who I am and I feel like the ghost of a total stranger.
That's certainly one take on it.
The more cynical soldiers would say it means "Head Up A55"
Refusal to believe does not negate the truth.
No, the Air Force says, "TEAM AMERICA, *beep* YEAH!" lol!
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SEAL's are in the Navy. And Hooyah is said only by SEAL's and Navy EOD technicians that are attached to units.
shareI think seals just flap their flippers.
~LjM
Put your pants on, Spartacus!
hooah (hoo ah) adj., adv., n., v., conj., interj., excla. (Orig. unknown) Slang. 1. Referring to or meaning anything and everything except "no". 2. What to say when at a loss for words. 3.a. Good copy. b. Roger. c. Solid copy. d. Good. e. Great. f. Message received. g. Understood. h. Acknowledged. 4.a. Glad to meet you. b. Welcome. 5. "All right!" 6.a. I don't know the answer, but I'll check on it. b. I haven't the foggiest idea. 7. I am not listening. 8. "That is enough of your drivel; sit down!" 9. Yes. 10. "You've got to be kidding me!" 11. Thank you. 12. Go to the next slide. 13. You've taken the correct action. 14. I don't know what that means, but I'm too embarassed to ask for clarification. 15. Squared away (He's pretty hooah.) 16. Amen!
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SEALs do not come from any branch but the Navy. And they say Hooyah.
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