oxi

Oxi is a term most commonly encountered as the transliteration of the Greek word γράφει οχι? No, correct: όχι, meaning no. In Modern Greek it functions as a standard negation in everyday speech and appears in various idiomatic expressions. The term holds particular cultural significance in Greece because of Oxi Day, observed on October 28 each year to commemorate Greece’s rejection of an Italian ultimatum in 1940, an event that helped trigger Greece’s involvement in World War II. Oxi Day is marked by public ceremonies, school activities, and patriotic commemorations.

In English-language and international contexts, oxi is usually the transliteration of the Greek word and may appear in discussions of Greek history, language, or culture. The sequence of letters may also appear as part of proper nouns, product names, or acronyms, written as OXI in uppercase or as variants depending on branding or language conventions. Because it is not tied to a single standardized meaning outside Greek usage, the interpretation of “oxi” depends on the surrounding context.

Spelling variants reflect transliteration choices from Greek, with alternative forms such as ochi or ohi found in some sources. As a result, readers should rely on context to determine whether the reference denotes the Greek negation, a cultural event like Oxi Day, or a specific organization, product, or acronym that uses the letters OXI. See also Oxi Day and Greek language.