When did black folks become 15th century English sailors?

[JGalt]

I keep hearing some goofy commercial on TV, I don't remember what they were advertising. But in the background, someone keeps yelling "Yo! Yo! Yo! Yo!"

Everything seems to be "Yo" these days, especially among black folks. Why that is, I have no idea.

"Yo" originated as a Middle English exclamation (attested by the early 15th century) used by sailors and huntsmen to denote effort or call attention. It gained popularity in American slang in the 20th century, particularly in Philadelphia, heavily influenced by Italian-American slang and African American Vernacular English (AAVE), ultimately becoming a mainstream casual greeting.

Key aspects of the etymology of "yo" include:

• Early Usage: Known as a shout of effort or a call (similar to "yo-ho-ho") in early English.
• 20th Century Revival: Popularity grew during World War II, when it was a common response during military roll calls
  .
  • Philadelphia Connection: It became heavily associated with Philadelphia's Italian-American and African-American communities in the mid-20th century, famously portrayed in media.
  • Italian Link: Some researchers suggest the modern usage is a shortening of the Southern Italian dialect word guagliò (meaning "guy" or "young man").
  • Alternative Theories: It is sometimes considered a natural shortening of "you" or simply a "naturalized" attention-grabber, similar to "hey".
  • Hip Hop Impact: It gained mainstream global popularity through hip-hop music and youth culture in the late 20th century."

 

[TNHarley]

Cultural appropriation

 

[rightwinger]

Rather hear “yo” than “bro”

 

[1srelluc]

How about hey, hey, hey?



I heard that one on The Big Short movie.

 

[JGalt]

Rather hear “yo” than “bro”

Also culturally-appropriated:

• Early Origins: While "brother" was shortened to "bro" in informal writing as early as the 16th century (approx. 1530), its consistent use in literature appeared later in the 1700s.
• Evolution:It served as a familial abbreviation before transitioning into a term for "fellow" or "guy".

• Cultural Adoption: In the early 20th century, it was frequently used in African American communities to mean friend, later becoming popularized by the 1970s and 1980s.

 

[rightwinger]

Evolution:It served as a familial abbreviation before transitioning into a term for "fellow" or "guy

The term bro has replaced man

Used to be…

Hey man, let’s get something to eat
Now it is
Hey bro, let’s get something to eat