Semper fi is one of the most popular sayings among Marines, but it isn’t the only phrase they use when expressing their pride in their country. Other Marines say something called oorah, which is different than other military chants, as a verbal sign of their enthusiasm for their country. Here are some examples of these phrases. If you know how to say them, you can join their ranks.
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Oorah
The phrase “Oorah” is a common Marine battle cry and is used throughout the service. It is pronounced “oo-rah,” and is also used during awards ceremonies, formations, and before training missions. Marines also call the phrase “jody,” short for “jody cadence.”
The word hurree was first used in the US Army during World War II, but since then it has gained more general meaning. The phrase is commonly used as a general substitute for other words and is often interpreted from context. The hurree is also used as an acronym for “semper fi” (Semper fi, “United States Army”), a military salute.
Yut
“Yut!” is a motivational exclamation that may be a variant of “yes” or the drill command “ten hut”. It is not to be confused with “yut,” a traditional Korean word associated with the Korean New Year. In addition to a motivational exclamation, yut is also an expression of pride. Marine Corps infantry officers have a particularly hard-core work ethic, and they use yut when enthusing themselves with the importance of their work.
In the U.S. Navy, Marines say “aye-aye,” which means “yes.” It’s also used as a response to a yes-or-no question. When the marines say “yut,” they mean they understand and will comply with an order. It’s not the same as the British version of “semper fi” (“hooray,” which is more formal), but it’s still a popular way to greet a Marine.
Gyrene
A shout of “Semper Fi!” is not uncommon among Marines, but it’s also a common response. Many Marines end a conversation by saying “Oorah!” or “Noah!”. This is the response to the Marine Corps’ motto “Semper Fi”.
The name “jarhead” comes from a WWII nickname for black soldiers: the jarhead uniform. Often, it was an insult, as the high collar of the Marine Dress Blues made Marines’ heads look like Mason jars. But as a response, the Marines have adopted this nickname and have been using it ever since. It has become a popular response to the phrase “semper fi” and is even used as an honorific.
POG
A phrase that the US Marines say to each other is “Semper Fi,” which means “always faithful.” This motto is one of the most important to the marines, who use it to demonstrate their support for their organization. Semper Fi means “always faithful,” but it is not limited to that. The phrase can also mean “always ready,” “always loyal,” or “always faithful.”
Regardless of the context in which a Marine encounters another Marine, he will often respond to the POG’s Semper Fi with an OOH-RAH. If the shout is muted, the POG responds by pointing with a thumbs up or bumbing his fist. The Marines refer to their non-infantry brothers and sisters as POGs, which stands for Personnel Other Than Grunts.
Grunt
“Grunt!” is how Marines respond to a salute or a shouted Semper Fi. In some cases, they say it in unison as an erroneous version of the phrase. “Ooh-rah!” is a more appropriate response, as it sounds like a shortened version of agreement. A platoon sergeant might ask if everyone understands the plan for the day. In other cases, Marines say “errrrrr” to show that they’re excited or agreeing with a plan. For example, during a motivational speech, Marines say “yut” instead of “ooh-rah.” Similarly, when people talk about blowing things up, they say “yut.”
Another Marine slang phrase is the “green machine.” This phrase refers to the hardened, deployable computers used by Marines. Marines sometimes use this phrase in response to the semper fi salute. Another term used in response to semper fi is “gundecking,” which is the falsification of official reports. HMMWV stands for “High-Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle.”
