How Do You Spell Hurray: The Weird History of How We Cheer

You just won the lottery. Or maybe your kid finally ate a piece of broccoli. You open your phone to text the group chat and you freeze. Is it hooray? Hurrah? Maybe hurray? Honestly, it feels like every time you type it, the autocorrect gives you a different look.

The short answer? You can spell it basically any way you want, and you’ll still be "right." But if you’re looking for the most common version in 2026, hurray and hooray are the heavyweight champions.

The Battle of the O’s and U’s

If you’re wondering how do you spell hurray, you’ve probably noticed that "hooray" looks a bit more modern. That's because it is. Language is fluid, and right now, the double-O version is winning the popularity contest in American English. According to data from the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "hooray" is the most frequent spelling, but "hurray" is a perfectly acceptable variant. It’s not a typo. It’s just a choice.

Think about the sound. When you shout it, you aren't really saying a crisp "Hoo." It’s more of a guttural, excited burst. That’s why that "U" in hurray feels more natural to some people. It captures the grunt of the cheer.

Where Did This Word Even Come From?

We didn't just start shouting this. It didn't pop out of a vacuum. Most etymologists, including the folks at the Oxford English Dictionary, point back to the word huzza.

Back in the 1700s and 1800s, sailors weren't yelling "hooray" when they saw land. They were yelling "huzza!" (pronounced hoo-ZAY). It was a shout of triumph. Over time, that "Z" sound softened. It got lazy. It turned into an "R." By the time the early 19th century rolled around, "hurrah" became the standard.

If you read old British literature—think Jane Austen or Dickens—you’re going to see "hurrah" almost exclusively. It sounds a bit more formal, doesn't it? A bit more "stiff upper lip."

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Geographic Splits: British vs. American

There is a massive divide here. If you are in London, you are probably going to spell it hurrah. It’s the classic English way. It feels more like a roar.

In the United States, we’ve mostly moved on to the "ee" sound at the end. We like things to sound bright and poppy. So, "hurray" or "hooray" became the standard on this side of the pond.

• Hurrah: The old-school, British, "Master and Commander" vibe.
• Hurray: The middle ground. Often used in written prose.
• Hooray: The most common American version, especially in casual texting.

Does Anyone Still Say Huzzah?

Kinda. But mostly at Renaissance Fairs or if you’re trying to be ironic. If you use "huzzah" in a serious business email, people might think you’ve spent too much time watching The Great on Hulu. Still, it’s the linguistic grandfather of your text message.

Why Spelling It "Wrong" Is Hard To Do

The truth is that interjections—words that express emotion—are notoriously hard to pin down. They are sounds first and words second. It’s like trying to spell the sound of a sneeze or a groan.

Is it "Achoo" or "Atishoo"? Both are fine.
Is it "Ugh" or "Ughhh"? Both work.

Because "hurray" is an exclamation, it follows the rules of the heart rather than the rules of the classroom. If you want to emphasize the excitement, you might even add extra letters. "Hoorayyyyy!" is a vibe. "Hurray!" is a fact.

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The Cultural Impact of the Cheer

We see these variations everywhere in pop culture, and they influence how we think about the spelling. Think about the song "Hooray for Hollywood." If that song had been titled "Hurrah for Hollywood," it would feel like a 1920s documentary instead of a flashy musical.

Then there is the "Hip Hip Hooray" tradition. This is a "call and response" cheer that has been used for centuries. Interestingly, some historians believe the "Hip Hip" part was actually a signal used by hunters to get the attention of the hounds, followed by the "huzza" or "hurray" to celebrate the catch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

While "hurray" is correct, there are some versions that are definitely just wrong.

1. Hoorah: This is often confused with the Marine Corps cheer "Ooh-rah." While they sound similar, they aren't the same thing. "Hoorah" with an "H" is just a messy middle ground that most editors will tell you to change.
2. Hurey: No. Just no. That looks like a surname or a very confused attempt at the word "hurry."
3. Hurray vs. Hurry: This is the most common actual typo. If you tell someone to "Hurray up," they’re going to be very confused about why you’re cheering for their lateness.

Which One Should You Use?

If you’re writing a formal piece—maybe a birthday card for your boss or a local news headline—stick to hooray. It’s the safest bet for 2026. It looks clean.

However, if you are writing a historical novel or you want to sound a bit more sophisticated, hurrah carries a certain weight.

And if you’re just a normal person texting a friend about getting a promotion? Hurray is great. It’s friendly. It’s classic. It’s hard to mess up.

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The Psychology of the "Ay" Sound

Phonetically, ending a word with an "ay" sound (like in hurray) is associated with "high-front" vowels. In linguistics, these sounds are often perceived as smaller, brighter, and more positive. Contrast that with "hurrah," which ends in a "low-back" vowel. That sounds bigger, darker, and more serious.

This might be why "hurray" feels more like a celebration for a birthday party, while "hurrah" feels like something shouted after a grueling military victory. We subconsciously choose the spelling that matches the energy we want to project.

Real World Examples of Usage

Let’s look at how the pros do it.

• The New York Times: Usually defaults to "hooray" in modern lifestyle pieces, but will use "hurrah" when quoting British sources or historical texts.
• Disney: Almost exclusively uses "hooray." It fits their brand of bright, bubbly optimism.
• Academic Journals: Often avoid the word entirely because it's too informal, but when they do, they tend toward the "hurrah" spelling to maintain a sense of gravitas.

A Quick Cheat Sheet for Modern Writers

Since we’ve established that there isn't one "God-given" way to spell it, use this logic:

If the person you’re talking to is over 80 or lives in a castle: Hurrah.
If you’re writing for an American audience and want to look "correct": Hooray.
If you like the way the letter "U" looks and want a classic feel: Hurray.

Practical Next Steps for Your Writing

To make sure your cheers always hit the right note, follow these three simple rules:

1. Check your region. If you’re writing for a British audience, use "hurrah." For Americans, use "hooray" or "hurray."
2. Match the tone. Use "hooray" for lighthearted, modern contexts and "hurrah" for more traditional or formal settings.
3. Be consistent. The only real way to look "wrong" is to use "hurray" in one paragraph and "hooray" in the next. Pick your favorite and marry it for the duration of your document.

Whether you’re celebrating a small win or a massive life milestone, the way you spell your excitement matters less than the fact that you’re excited. So, go ahead. Type it out. Hit send. Hurray!