Ope (interjection)

Common card · No. 295641

Ope is an interjection in American English, often associated with the Midwestern United States, used to express mild surprise, acknowledge a minor social infraction, or politely signal one's presence. It frequently appears in phrases such as "Ope, let me squeeze past ya" or "Ope, sorry about that." Though popularly considered a distinctly Midwestern expression, linguists have noted that the underlying sound occurs across the English-speaking world, including in Canada and the United Kingdom. Ope gained widespread attention beginning in 2017 through media coverage and internet memes celebrating Midwestern cultural identity, and received further national prominence during the 2024 U.S. presidential election when Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, used the word spontaneously at a campaign rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

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