Meaning
What does Wally World mean?
Wally World, also known as Wallyworld is an endearing name for the well-known American hypermarket franchise Walmart.
Walmart is a massive retail store that offers nearly everything a person can imagine. While you go inside to buy your daily groceries, toys, a fridge, a new toilet, and a gun, you can simultaneously have your tires and your car-radio changed.
Some Americans have gotten excessively enthusiastic about the chain, to the point where they started calling it “Wally World”, seemingly inspired by famous amusement parks such as Disney World and SeaWorld.
Origin
What's the origin of Wally World?
Walmart was first established by Sam Walton in 1962.
It is unclear who or when “Wally World” became a slang for the popular retail franchise, but the name is made up of the Walmart nickname Wally, ending with World, just like many beloved amusement parks in the United States.
A likely candidate for the origin of “Wally World” can also be found in the 1983 movie, National Lampoon’s Vacation, which includes a theme park, named Walley World.
Since then, a modification of this fictional theme park was likely adopted as a slang for Walmart.
Spread & Usage
How did Wally World spread?
The hypermarket is only established in the US; therefore it’s mostly Americans who can enjoy “Wally World”.
In 2017, Mr. Ghetto uploaded the YouTube video titled “Walmart / Wally Wally World”, featuring a song dedicated to the hypermarket chain.
It is no surprise that the hypermarket got its own nickname, considering that it is the world’s largest company by revenue, serving as an inexhaustible source of memes for Americans.
“Wally World” has been a staple of American culture for decades and will likely remain so.
External resources
- Urban Dictionary – Wally World