It's Merriam-Wibster's Word of the Day for August 4th.
Today's word is HUPLA, spelled H-O-O-P-L-A.
Hoopla is a noun.
It refers to talk or writing that is designed to get people excited about or interested in something,
often with the implication that the person using the word does not find the thing exciting or interesting.
Here's the word used in a sentence from the Associated Press.
The stars seemingly have aligned for the WNBA with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese,
joining the ranks of Asia Wilson, Breonna Stewart, Diana, Terasi, and others.
The league is getting unparalleled attention.
Now the challenge for the WNBA after opening its 28th season Tuesday night is translating the hype and hoopla into a movement and not just a moment in its history.
In French,
the interjection oula is used roughly the same way as English's upsidaisee or whoopsidaisee,
as one might say when picking up a toddler who has fallen down on their bottom,
to assure them that their tumble is not a big deal.
When the word was borrowed into English, however,
it referred to a kind of excited or agitated commotion,
synonymous with other H words, including hoo-ha, ha-bub, and ha-la-baloo.
Hoopla later gained a sense, referring to hype,
especially of the kind marketing execs cook up for the release of a new product.
Both senses can carry with them a whiff of disapproval.