Japanese · The Basics
おっす
ossu
OHSS · /ossɯ̥/
'Sup / yo (rough male greeting)
1/5 Grandma-safe
mild, playful; fine on daytime TV
Literally
"(contraction of ohayō gozaimasu)"
Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.
How to use it
A blunt, masculine "yo," compressed from a formal good-morning until nothing polite is left. Sports clubs, gyms, martial-arts dojos, and guys greeting close male friends. Anime-vs-reality flag: learners think everyone says this — in reality a woman using it, or a man using it at the office, would sound like they're doing a bit. Keep it to the locker room.
Heard in the wild
おっす、久しぶり。
Yo, long time no see.
Where it lands
Nationwide; male, athletic/casual contexts
Quick answers
- What does "おっす" mean?
- In Japanese, "おっす" means "'Sup / yo (rough male greeting)". Literally it's "(contraction of ohayō gozaimasu)". A blunt, masculine "yo," compressed from a formal good-morning until nothing polite is left. Sports clubs, gyms, martial-arts dojos, and guys greeting close male friends. Anime-vs-reality flag: learners think everyone says this — in reality a woman using it, or a man using it at the office, would sound like they're doing a bit. Keep it to the locker room.
- Is "おっす" offensive?
- It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
- How do you pronounce "おっす"?
- Say it "OHSS" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ossɯ̥.
Related in Japanese
ばか baka BAH-kah Idiot / dummy / stupid あほ aho AH-ho Idiot / dummy (Kansai flavor — often affectionate) おごって ogotte o-GOHT-teh You're buying / treat me / your round 一気 ikki EEK-kee Chug! Chug! / down it in one! ドンマイ donmai dohn-MYE No worries / shake it off / tough luck, forget it くそ kuso KOO-so Damn! / Crap! / Shit!
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