¡hurra!
The English phrase hurray is expressed in Spanish as ¡hurra!
¡hurra! is often perceived as more literary or archaic and is frequently found in translated books rather than in everyday spoken Spanish.
Which one should you use?
While ¡hurra! can be used, there are more common alternatives depending on the context. ¡viva! is a much more common way to express 'hurray' or 'long live' in spontaneous Spanish. For expressing approval and appreciation across the Spanish-speaking world, you might use ¡Bravo! If you want to express excitement informally, you can use ¡Vamos!, which literally means 'let's go'.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Latin America, you might use ¡Qué chévere! to mean 'How great!'
When do people say it?
In many Spanish-speaking contexts, using ¡viva! is the standard spontaneous way to shout 'hurray' or 'long live!'
Did you know?
- The word bravo can be a 'false friend' because while it means 'hurray' or 'well done' as a cheer, as an adjective it often describes a person who is angry or fierce.
- While ¡hurra! is a general cheer, ¡viva! is used in specific cultural rituals, such as the 'Grito de Dolores' in Mexico, to shout 'long live' to national heroes.
- In Spain, ¡bravo! is frequently used for a performance, but shouting ¡olé! is the unique way to express a sudden burst of approval or 'hurray' during flamenco or bullfighting.
Examples in context
- ¡Hurra!Hurray!This example shows the exclamation ¡hurra!Tatoeba #4554104 by swyter, translation #1148363 by cntrational
- ¡Hurra! ¡Lo encontré!Hurray! I have found it!This example uses ¡hurra! to express finding something.Tatoeba #1546399 by marcelostockle, translation #1148365 by cntrational
- ¡Viva el equipo!Long live the team!
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are celebrating a win.
- Daniel¡Ganamos el juego!We won the game!
- Lucía¡Hurra! Sabía que podíamos.Hurray! I knew we could.
- DanielFue un partido difícil.It was a difficult match.
- LucíaPero lo logramos, Daniel.But we did it, Daniel.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
