Skip to Content

Why do Orks say Dakka?

Orks in the Warhammer 40,000 universe are known for their love of dakka, which refers to heavy firepower and the noise made by their shooty weapons. There are a few key reasons why orks constantly yell “Dakka! Dakka! Dakka!” in battle.

Ork Language and Culture

The orkish language is onomatopoeic, meaning words are formed by sounds associated with objects or actions. To orks, the loud noise made by their automatic weapons sounds like “dakka dakka dakka.” So dakka has become part of their vocabulary to describe devastatingly heavy firepower.

Dakka is entrenched in ork culture and mythology. Their gods Gork and Mork are said to wield the Dakka. Young orks are taught that dakka is a good and virtuous thing. Their society values aggressiveness and feats of arms above all else. Dakka represents the pinnacle of orky achievement.

Warmongering Nature

Orks were bioengineered for warfare by the mysterious Brain Boyz millions of years ago. Genetically programmed for violence, orks live to wage war. They band together in warring clans and are constantly fighting amongst themselves when not launching Waaaghs! against other species.

Shouting “Dakka! Dakka! Dakka!” is both an expression of orkoid joy and enthusiasm for destruction as well as an attempt to intimidate their foes with a display of firepower. More dakka = more dead enemies = more fun for an ork.

Weaponizing Noise

In addition to made-up onomatopoeic words like “dakka”, the orks have been known to weaponize sound itself. Their Weirdboyz generate destructive psychic powers by gathering the Waaagh! energy produced from orks loudly yelling battlecries.

Groups of orks stamping, clapping, and chanting in unison can cause deadly vibrations and harmonics in what is called a “Waaagh! drum”. Believing noise aids their passage into battle, orks will sound truck horns, bang on plates and pipes, and fire their guns randomly to work themselves into a frenzy.

Conclusion

To summarize, orks yell “Dakka! Dakka! Dakka!” because:

  • Dakka mimics the sound of their automatic guns
  • Dakka represents their obsession with firepower and war
  • Shouting dakka intimidates foes and fires up other orks
  • Noise and sound have real power in ork mythology and technology

So whether they are charging into battle or gunning down their foes, expect orks to keep yelling dakka as long as they wage war across the 41st millennium and beyond.

Key Facts About Ork Dakka

Term Definition
Dakka Onomatopoeic ork term for heavy automatic firepower and the noise it makes
Waaagh! A massive ork horde on the warpath
Weirdboyz Ork psykers who channel destructive psychic energy from loud noise
Waaagh! drum Ork ritual of banging and stomping to produce deadly harmonics

Notable Quotes About Ork Dakka

Quote Speaker
“Dese gunz make us da deadliest, so we yell Dakka Dakka Dakka!” Ork Nob
“Waaagh! Dakka Dakka Dakka!” Ork Boyz
“I feed on your Dakka! Give me more!” Ork Weirdboy
“Their guns fired an endless stream of bullets with a deafening roar of ‘DAKKADAKKADAKKA!'” Imperial Survivor

The Louder the Dakka, the Deadlier the Ork Horde

From its onomatopoeic linguistic origins to its central role in ork culture, the concept of dakka underpins why orks are so devastatingly lethal despite their primitive technology. Dakka represents the pinnacle of ork engineering and warmongering spirit.

Believing noise feeds their gods and enhances their weapons, orks ensure their hordes are always yelling, stomping, and firing wantonly to produce as much dakka as physically possible. So when an ork horde appears on the horizon bellowing “Dakka! Dakka! Dakka!” be sure to take cover, for a nearly unstoppable green tide is about to descend.