Viva

Part of speech: interjection

Pronunciation: /ˈviː.və/

Definitions

1. A shout of approval or encouragement, typically used to express enthusiasm or support for a person or cause
2. A cry often used to express strong support or celebration for someone or something, conveying enthusiasm or approval in a festive manner
3. An exclamation that signifies admiration or endorsement, frequently employed in contexts of celebration or public acclaim

Etymology: "Viva" as a cry of cheer comes from Spanish and Italian, where "viva" is the feminine form of an adjective meaning "alive" and is used in the sense of "long live." In Italian and Spanish cheers, a crowd might shout "viva" followed by a name or cause, wishing that person or thing a long life, much as English speakers might cheer "hurrah" or "hip hip." The interjection is also a clipping of a longer phrase. "Viva voce" is Latin for "living voice," and it originally described an oral examination or a vote taken aloud rather than in writing. Over time the full phrase was shortened, and the surviving "viva" came to denote the spoken examination itself, particularly the oral exam at the end of a university or doctoral degree, which is where many English speakers now meet the word.

Synonyms: cheers, hurray