Meaning & use
okey dokey
Last updated
Meanings
interjectioninformal
A cheerful, informal way of saying that you agree or that something is fine.
Grammar: Used on its own as a reply, not as part of a longer sentence: 'Okey dokey, let's go.'
Patterns
- Okey dokey, ...
- Okey dokey, then.
- Okey dokey by me
Okey dokey, I'll pick you up at eight.
'Can you lock the door?' 'Okey dokey.'
Okey dokey, that works for me.
adjectivenot comparableinformal
Satisfactory or acceptable; used in a light, friendly way.
Grammar: Comes after a linking verb such as be or seem: 'That's okey dokey with me.'
Patterns
- be okey dokey with someone
- be okey dokey by someone
If Tuesday suits you, that's okey dokey with me.
The plan seems okey dokey, so let's book the tickets.
Common combinations
- okey dokey with me
- A later start is okey dokey with me if it helps you.
- okey dokey, then
- Okey dokey, then, we'll meet outside the station.
- say okey dokey
- She just said okey dokey and carried on reading.
- everything is okey dokey
- Don't worry, everything is okey dokey now.
Synonyms and how they differ
- OK
- Much more common and neutral; it works in almost any situation, while 'okey dokey' sounds playful and informal.
- all right
- A general way to agree or to say something is acceptable, and it is less chirpy in tone than 'okey dokey'.
- sure
- Shows willing agreement in everyday talk, but it does not carry the same cheerful, slightly old-fashioned flavor.
- very well
- A formal or slightly stiff way to agree, so it fits polite or official settings where 'okey dokey' would sound too casual.
Word family
- OK interjection
- A very common way to agree or to show that something is acceptable.
Commonly confused: okey dokey or okey-doke? okey dokey or hokey?
okey dokey vs okey-doke
A rare short variant of the same expression; 'okey dokey' is the usual spelling learners will meet.
okey dokey vs hokey
Sounds similar but means silly or old-fashioned in a sentimental way, and it is not a way of agreeing.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'okey dokey' in the most natural way?
Choose one answer.
'Okey dokey' works as a spoken reply showing friendly agreement, as in option A. Option B treats it as a countable noun, option C uses it as a verb, and option D uses it as a gradable adjective, none of which is normal.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “okey dokey”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.