The term “Ope” (rural, used, sound)

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

Nashville is basically an area for relocated Yankees and Chicagoans these days.

I lived there about 4ish years ago I’d say. Near Franklin, TN to be more specific

[manitopiaaa]

We use it Oklahoma. It's basically 'Oops' without the 's'

Oop, not Ope.

[Connie 2010]

Hear it here in Texas as well.

[ABQConvict]

I think it is just a clipped vowel at the end of the word "Oh".

Basically, people just shut their mouth early thus quantitatively shortening the terminal vowel sound and creating a voiceless bilabial stop ('p' sound)

Compare:

No --> Nope

Oh --> Ohpe (Ope)

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by ABQConvict

I think it is just a clipped vowel at the end of the word "Oh".

Basically, people just shut their mouth early thus quantitatively shortening the terminal vowel sound and creating a voiceless bilabial stop ('p' sound)

Compare:

No --> Nope

Oh --> Ohpe (Ope)

Your theory makes sense, but I don’t think that is the case.

I think it’s literally people saying the word “Ope” instead of oops, oh, or whatever else they might say. To say “Ope” compared to oops, oh, has to be intentional, as they have different sounds. It might be a reaction more than anything, but still

[Kar54]

Colorado I don't hear it. Believe it or not, I hear "f**k" more than anything lately.

[Dport7674]

I* use it but it might not be 'ope' exactly. Just a noise I make that's somewhere between ope and oat.

*Born and raised in Iowa/Illinois

[Jay F]

I have lived most of my life in the West and have never heard it. I didn't know this word exists.

[BurnInTheMil]

Originally Posted by Jay F

I have lived most of my life in the West and have never heard it. I didn't know this word exists.

I haven’t heard it during the 2 years I’ve been on the West’s Coast, but when I visit home, I hear it frequently

[NativeOrange]

Weird. I say it a lot and I’ve lived in SoCal my whole life. Never heard anyone else say it so I’m not sure where I picked it up. It’s kind of like a mix between “oh” and “oops”.