“Oh My Lanta” – Its Meaning, Origin & Usage
It’s not uncommon for certain phrases in popular movies and tv shows to become a part of popular culture and everyday vocabulary. After all, how many times have you heard “ay caramba!” from The Simpsons or “May the Force be with you” from everyone’s favorite sci-fi adventure movies.
“Oh my Lanta” has a similar backstory to these kinds of terms, but is slightly lesser-known and considered more obscure and niche than many popular phrases that have come straight from popular media.
Here is a breakdown of where exactly this phrase comes from, and when it would normally be used.
Meaning Of Oh My Lanta
“Oh my Lanta” which can sometimes also be said as “Oh Mylanta” is a form of expression, excitement or surprise, and works as another way of saying “oh my gosh”. The expressions tend to be used in more humorous situations when you want to convey your surprise while still sounding lighthearted and not too serious.
Many people will use this phrase as a way to avoid show surprise without going overboard with their language, making it much more appropriate to say when you are in more specific situations and settings.
The exact definition of “oh my Lanta” is:
– A phrase that conveys a surprise, shock, or concern about a sudden development.
Examples Of Oh My Lanta
Because of what it means, “oh my Lanta” is a phrase that can be used in many different situations and scenarios to express your shock or surprise at something you hear or see.
Here are a few different ways people will tend to use the phrase “oh my Lanta”:
To Avoid Saying “Oh My God”
“Oh my God” may be a fairly common term for people to say when they receive a sudden shock or surprise, however, because it uses the word “God” in vain, it is considered blasphemous to many religious followers.
“Oh my Lanta” is therefore seen as a more acceptable way for someone to express their sudden worry or shock in many religious circles.
One way this could be used by religious followers could be:
– “Oh my Lanta, I can’t believe I forgot to pick up any milk from the store”
Professional Environments
When you’re at work, around family, or in the presence of people you may not know on a very personal level, it doesn’t always feel appropriate to say “oh my God” or more explicit words when you receive some sudden news since this can come off as rude.
“Oh my Lanta” is therefore a much friendlier and lighthearted way to show your surprise without sounding too forceful or distressed. Since this phrase has been commonly used in sitcoms from the 90s, people will also often use this as a way to encourage a discussion between everyone on where the phrase is from.
Being Said By Kids
Some parents will teach their kids certain phrases that are slightly different from their original form so that they know what it means, but don’t actually say anything that could be considered negative or rude.
This is the case with “oh my Lanta” which some kids will hear and imitate rather than getting into the habit of saying “oh my God”.
Other Ways To Say Oh My Lanta
Since it is simply expressing surprise or shock, there are many phrases that have the same meaning as “oh my Lanta”. Some of these include “oh my God”, “oh gosh,” and “my goodness”.
Another comical phrase people will use to show that they are surprised is “holy moly” which is another saying that is considered much more casual.
Some people will resort to using profanity to express their sudden surprise, however, this is never good to make into a habit since it can be very unpleasant in most formal situations or when around strangers or children.
Others will even use the abbreviation “OMG” in their regular everyday speech, which is an anagram for “oh my God” and conveys the same meaning as the traditional term.
Origins Of Oh My Lanta
If you have watched many episodes of the incredibly popular 90’s sitcom ‘Full House’, chances are you will have heard Candace Cameron, who plays D.J Tanner on the show, say “Oh Mylanta” in many of her scenes.
Not only did this quickly become her characters catchphrase, but it eventually caught on with fans and viewers too, and while the original phrase was “oh Mylanta”, many people began spacing out the words when saying it out loud with it soon also becoming more well known as “oh my Lanta” which is still commonly said today thanks to how popular Full House has remained within popular culture.
Summary
As a much more lighthearted and casual way to say “oh my God” without seeming overdramatic or rude, “oh my Lanta” is a phrase that has skyrocketed in popularity, especially because of where it came from.
