hooyah

Hooyah is a battle cry and expression used primarily by the United States Navy and Navy SEALs. It is also heard among other naval personnel and some Coast Guard units. The term functions as a multipurpose utterance: it can signal readiness, convey motivation, acknowledge orders, or celebrate a successful outcome. In training and operations, personnel may respond to commands with hooyah or use it as a morale booster during physically demanding tasks.

The exact origin of hooyah is not definitively documented. It is most closely associated with the U.S. Navy and its Special Warfare community, but has spread more broadly through interservice exchanges, pop culture, and civilian fitness contexts. Spelling and pronunciation vary, with common forms including hooyah, hoo-ya, and hoo-yah. Similar military battle cries include the Army's hooah and the Marine Corps' ooh-rah, though these are distinct phrases with separate traditions.

In popular culture, hooyah has appeared in films, video games, music, and memes, helping to reinforce perceptions of Navy culture and teamwork. It is generally used as an affirmative or motivational signal rather than a specific command, and its meaning can depend on context and tone.

See also: hooah, ooh-rah, hoorah.