Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Yo!
0:00
-5:23

Paid episode

The full episode is only available to paid subscribers of Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios
Yo!
The interjection made famous by Rocky Balboa may be older than you think.
John McWhorter
Oct 21, 2022
∙ Paid
2
Share
Sylvester Stallone and Carl Weathers in Rocky, released in 1977.

The word “yo” — as in “Yo Adrian, I did it!” — is thought to have originated sometime in the 1940s or so among Italians in Philadelphia. But there’s a case to be made that it traces back to Old English. John explains.

Comments on this episode are for paid subscribers

Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios

Lexicon Valley from Booksmart Studios

A podcast about language, with host John McWhorter.

Listen on

Substack App
Apple Podcasts
RSS Feed

Appears in episode

John McWhorter

Recent Episodes

4:09
From Bethune to Rascoe
 • 
John McWhorter
30:11
When Did People Start Talking?
 • 
John McWhorter
32:03
Who's Afraid of Ayesha Rascoe?
 • 
John McWhorter
6:41
What Is Yiddish?
 • 
John McWhorter
26:15
What Is Miami English?
 • 
John McWhorter
4:11
I Lighted Them Downstairs
 • 
John McWhorter
29:11
Report of the Trial of Levi Weeks
 • 
John McWhorter
2:16
I Got Beat
 • 
John McWhorter