ANIME EXPLAINER • UPDATED NOV 1, 2026 What Does "Plus Ultra" Mean? 12 Anime Phrases Explained By OGGamersHub • Updated November 1, 2026 • Anime · Explainer • ~7 min read "Plus Ultra!" "Believe it!" "Nani?!" If you watch anime, you hear these phrases all the time, and fans use them like inside jokes. But what do they actually mean? In this guide I explain what "Plus Ultra" means , why Naruto says "Believe it", and 10 more famous anime phrases, with an example sentence for each. IN THIS GUIDE Quick answers Search and jump list The 12 phrases Cheat sheet How to use them FAQ Quick answers Plus Ultra = Latin for "further beyond", or "Go beyond!". It is the motto of UA High School in My Hero Academia. Believe it! / Dattebayo = Naruto's catchphrase. "Dattebayo" adds emphasis and has no exact English meaning. Nani?! = "What?!" in Japanese. Kamehameha = Goku's famous ...
What Does "Plus Ultra" Mean? 12 Anime Phrases Explained
"Plus Ultra!" "Believe it!" "Nani?!" If you watch anime, you hear these phrases all the time, and fans use them like inside jokes. But what do they actually mean? In this guide I explain what "Plus Ultra" means, why Naruto says "Believe it", and 10 more famous anime phrases, with an example sentence for each.
Quick answers
- Plus Ultra = Latin for "further beyond", or "Go beyond!". It is the motto of UA High School in My Hero Academia.
- Believe it! / Dattebayo = Naruto's catchphrase. "Dattebayo" adds emphasis and has no exact English meaning.
- Nani?! = "What?!" in Japanese.
- Kamehameha = Goku's famous energy wave from Dragon Ball.
Search the phrases and jump to any one
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BankaiDattebayo / "Believe it!"El Psy KongrooGomu Gomu no...It's over 9000!KamehamehaNani?!Omae wa mou shindeiruPlus UltraTatakae!Yare yare dazeZa Warudo
12 famous anime phrases and what they mean
Bankai
Bleach • Soul Reapers like Ichigo
It means "Final Release". It is the strongest form of a Soul Reaper's sword, and it is shouted when a fighter becomes much more powerful.
Example: "Time to unleash my bankai in Monday's exam."
Dattebayo / "Believe it!"
Naruto • Naruto Uzumaki
Dattebayo is a Japanese verbal tic with no exact meaning. It adds emphasis, a bit like "you know!" or "I tell you!". The English dub often changes it to "Believe it!".
Example: "I will pass this exam, believe it!"
El Psy Kongroo
Steins;Gate • Rintaro Okabe
It is a made-up phrase that Okabe says as a sign-off. It has no real meaning, and that is part of the charm for fans.
Example: "Mission complete. El Psy Kongroo."
Gomu Gomu no...
One Piece • Monkey D. Luffy
"Gomu" means rubber in Japanese. Luffy's body is made of rubber because he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, so his attacks start with "Gomu Gomu no...", like "Gomu Gomu no Pistol".
Example: "Gomu Gomu no Pistol! He punched the pillow."
It's over 9000!
Dragon Ball Z • Vegeta
Vegeta says this when he reads Goku's power level. In the English dub the number is 9000. In the Japanese original it was 8000. The line became one of the biggest memes in anime.
Example: "That fight scene was so good, my hype is over 9000!"
Kamehameha
Dragon Ball • Goku
It is Goku's famous energy wave, taught by Master Roshi. Fans note that the name plays on "kame", the Japanese word for turtle, because Roshi's school is the Turtle School, and on the name of the Hawaiian king Kamehameha.
Example: "He put his hands together and yelled Kamehameha at the lag."
Nani?!
Many anime • Almost everyone
It is Japanese for "What?!". Characters shout it when they are shocked, and it became a famous internet meme.
Example: "Nani?! You finished the whole series in one night?"
Omae wa mou shindeiru
Fist of the North Star • Kenshiro
It means "You are already dead." Kenshiro says it after striking a pressure point. It became a meme because the next word is often "Nani?!".
Example: "Omae wa mou shindeiru, said the teacher before the test."
Plus Ultra
My Hero Academia • All Might and the UA students
It is Latin for "further beyond", and it is often translated as "Go beyond!" It is also the national motto of Spain. In My Hero Academia it is the motto of UA High School and All Might's catchphrase. It means to push past your limits.
Example: "I am tired, but Plus Ultra! One more set!"
Tatakae!
Attack on Titan • Eren Yeager
It means "Fight!". It is a rally cry that shows the characters will not give up, even in the darkest moments.
Example: "Tatakae! Finish your homework!"
Yare yare daze
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure • Jotaro Kujo
It is a sigh that means something like "good grief" or "give me a break". Jotaro says it when he is annoyed or tired of a problem.
Example: "Yare yare daze, the Wi-Fi is down again."
Za Warudo
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure • Dio Brando
It is the English word "The World" said with a Japanese accent. It is the name of Dio's Stand, and he shouts it when he stops time.
Example: "ZA WARUDO! Nobody move!"
Notice how much the dub and the sub can change a phrase? "Believe it!" and "over 9000" are good examples. Learn more in our guide to anime sub vs dub.
Want to watch the shows behind these phrases?Plan your binge, or find your next anime to watch.
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Anime phrases cheat sheet
| Phrase | Series | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Plus Ultra | My Hero Academia | Go beyond |
| Dattebayo | Naruto | An emphasis word, like "you know!" |
| Nani?! | Many | What?! |
| Over 9000 | Dragon Ball Z | A huge power level (8000 in the original) |
| Kamehameha | Dragon Ball | Goku's energy wave |
| Omae wa mou shindeiru | Fist of the North Star | You are already dead |
| Yare yare daze | JoJo | Good grief |
| Bankai | Bleach | Final release |
| Tatakae | Attack on Titan | Fight! |
Love the characters who say these lines? See who wins in Naruto vs Goku and Itachi vs Madara, or see which ones fans love to hate in the top 10 most hated anime characters.
How to use anime phrases in real life
- Use them for fun. Friends who watch anime will get the joke right away.
- Use the right moment. "Nani?!" is for shock, "Plus Ultra!" is for effort, and "Yare yare daze" is for annoyance.
- Do not overuse them. A few phrases are fun. In every sentence they get tiring.
- Know the series. Some phrases, like "Omae wa mou shindeiru", make the most sense when you have seen the show.
Hearing great anime songs too? Check our top 10 best anime openings. Watching the new season of Tokyo Revengers? See the Tokyo Revengers watch order. Into gaming words? Read our gaming slang explained, and for animation beyond anime, see what happened to Korra before Seven Havens.
▶All Might and "Plus Ultra"Watch the iconic scenes | Opens on YouTube ▶Naruto: dattebayo vs "Believe it"Compare sub and dub | Opens on YouTube ▶Goku's KamehamehaWatch the classic | Opens on YouTube ▶Famous anime catchphrasesSee more fan favorites | Opens on YouTubeAnime phrases: FAQ
What does Plus Ultra mean in My Hero Academia?
Plus Ultra is Latin for "further beyond", often translated as "Go beyond!". In My Hero Academia it is UA High School's motto and All Might's catchphrase, and it means to push past your limits.
What does dattebayo mean in Naruto?
Dattebayo is a Japanese verbal tic that adds emphasis, similar to "you know!" or "I tell you!". It has no exact English meaning, and the English dub often uses "Believe it!" instead.
Why does the English dub say 'Believe it'?
The dub needed a short English phrase to match Naruto's catchphrase and his personality, so it used "Believe it!". The Japanese original says "dattebayo".
What does Nani mean in anime?
Nani means "What?" in Japanese. Characters shout it when they are shocked.
Was it over 9000 in the original Dragon Ball Z?
No. In the Japanese original, Vegeta said Goku's power level was over 8000. The English dub changed it to 9000, and the meme was born.
What does Omae wa mou shindeiru mean?
It means "You are already dead." It comes from Fist of the North Star, where Kenshiro says it after striking an enemy's pressure point.
What does El Psy Kongroo mean?
It is a made-up phrase from Steins;Gate. Okabe uses it as a sign-off, and it has no literal meaning.
Do I need to know Japanese to understand anime catchphrases?
No. Most subtitles and dubs explain the meaning, and this guide covers the most popular ones. Learning a few common words just makes watching more fun.
Final words
Now you know what "Plus Ultra" and "Believe it" mean, and ten more phrases that fans love to quote. Which one is your favorite, and which one did I miss? Tell me in the comments, and I will add the best ones to this list.
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