{"id":4541,"date":"2022-06-29T17:00:13","date_gmt":"2022-06-29T17:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=4541"},"modified":"2022-06-29T17:00:13","modified_gmt":"2022-06-29T17:00:13","slug":"ara-ara-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/ara-ara-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Ara Ara \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking at a Tik Tok video of a gamer girl saying the word \u201cara ara<\/em>?\u201d It probably looks like she\u2019s having a good time while saying it, but what does the expression mean? This post unpacks everything you need to know about the meaning and origin of this popular internet meme.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

\u201cAra ara<\/em>\u201d is a Japanese expression meaning \u201coh my<\/em>.\u201d However, it has several variations with different meanings. The meaning behind \u201cara ara<\/em>\u201d depends on its context of use. The six primary variations of \u201cara ara<\/em>\u201d are the following.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Oh my<\/li>\n
  2. Oh my, I\u2019m sorry.<\/li>\n
  3. Oh, my sexually explicit.<\/li>\n
  4. Oh my darling, what are you up to?<\/li>\n
  5. Oh my, that\u2019s cute.<\/li>\n
  6. Oh, my that\u2019s rude or harsh.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Example Usage<\/h2>\n

    \u201cAra Ara (oh my), that\u2019s not what I expected. Are you sure we can get around this problem?\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAra ara (oh my, I\u2019m sorry). I had no idea that was going to happen. If I could take it back, I would certainly do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAra ara. (sexually explicit) you\u2019re so cute, and I want you to take me home.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAra ara. (oh my darling, what are you up to) I want to know if you want to come around for a few hours and hang out with me. What do you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAra ara. (oh my, that\u2019s cute). Look at that little pug playing with his ball. He's just too adorable. I want one just like him.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \u201cAra ara, (oh may that\u2019s rude or harsh). How could you say that too me. I can\u2019t believe you think that about me and I\u2019m about to burst into tears.\u201d<\/p>\n

    \"\" \"\"<\/p>\n

    Origin<\/h2>\n

    The expression \u201cara ara\u201d originates from the Japanese language. There are several variations of the saying, depending o the context of the conversation. Miyako, an offshoot of Ryukyuan languages, has over a million speakers, and it\u2019s a big part of Japan\u2019s heritage. This form of Japanese language originated from the southern region of Japan in the Okinawan Islands.<\/p>\n

    Ara became an interjection in Miyako and can be doubled to form \u201cara ara,\u201d which means a strong sense of curiosity and surprise at an event or occurrence. It also has a flirtatious or teasing connotation, hence the sexually explicit variations of the saying.<\/p>\n

    In Japanese, the interjection appears with the following writing and pronunciation.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Are-are (\u3042\u308c\u3042\u308c).<\/li>\n
    • Arere (\u3042\u308c\u308c).<\/li>\n
    • Arya-arya (\u3042\u308a\u3083\u3042\u308a\u3083).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Language experts believe the expression started to spread in English-speaking communities after 2010, with the rise in popularity in gaming and manga or anime forums and websites. There are dozens of videos of e-girls saying the phrase online to their legions of fans.<\/p>\n