In "Historically Yours", Stéphane Bern always has the last word and tells us the story of a phrase or expression.
Tuesday, he explains to us the origins of the interjection “hurray!”, Used to rejoice in something, in sport for example, or to encourage during an effort.
Why do we say "Hooray!" in a moment of joy or to encourage people making an intense effort? Difficult to say so many possible explanations exist
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M
ardi in "Historically yours" on Europe 1, Stéphane Bern detailed the probable origins of this well-known interjection.
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Russian, Tartar or Saxon origin
A first explanation is that the expression "hurray!"
be Russian.
Before a fight, the Cossacks shouted "Ura!"
It most certainly came from the Slavic "huraj" which can be translated as "in paradise".
Indeed, the cry before the battle was used to gain access to the afterlife if things went wrong.
Another possible explanation: "hourra" would come from the Tartar verb "wurmak", which means "to strike" in French.
When conjugated in the imperative in the third person singular, this verb gave "ura".
Everything therefore suggests that our "hurray" comes from the East.
Unless its origin is ultimately Saxon: in the 16th century, sailors hoisting the sails gave themselves courage by shouting "huzza!", From the verb "heeze" which means "to hoist" in our language.
Anyway, every May 9, even today, the Russians celebrate the day of victory and the surrender of Nazi Germany with a "hurray".
President Vladimir Putin always ends his speech with this word on this date.