I thought orcs were an allegory for the chavs and cockneys who confounded even a life long english ear with their speaking and slang. As if they were an alien race who assumed the form of the locals to try and blend in, but they never could get the language right.

For awhile they were even pig-like in appearance. With tusks and snouts. This was back when kobolds were furred creatures.

Tolkien had them as sort of like mushroom people. They would lay a sort of pod person into the ground, and later when they're full grown, they pop up ready to go.

Warcraft had them as aliens from another planet who finally freed themselves from indentured servitude.

Now they're just a gay brown people allegory. That's not only boring, it's lame.