Dictionary of interjections (aww, oh, ah, eek, oops)

13-06-25 6:27 PM

Dictionary of interjections
Here is a list of english interjections (words that have no grammatical meaning, but just signify emotions, such as "Aha" and "Wow") and their meanings. Feel free to mail me if you have suggestions or comments. Like the sounds themselves, most of the interjection can be made stronger by stretching them out, such as "aaaaaah!!!" or "awwwwwww!!". This list mostly describes the shortest canonical representations. Note that some are listed several times with different meanings, and as alternate spellings under other entries.

Word
aah!

Alternate/ Translation Similar

Example
"Aaaah! It's eating my leg!" "Aha! So you took the money!" "Ahem! Swearing is against office policy." "Ahh, yes, I understand now" "Argh, the car won't work!" "Aww, what an adorable puppy" "Aww, it hit him right in the nuts!" "Aw, don't be like that!" "Bah, I never liked him

Meaning
Fright, shock. Sometimes it means "ahh" instead. Understanding, triumph (can also be used as "ahh") The sound of clearing one's throat. Used to get someone's attention, especially if they don't know (or apparently forgot) that you're there. Realisation, understanding. Sometimes it means "aaah" or "eh" instead. Annoyance, anger, frustration

aha

a-ha

"I understand"

ahem

"Attention, please!"

ahh

ahhh

"Ok, I see"

argh

augh

"Damn!"

aww

aw, awww aw, ohh, ahh oh

"How sweet!"

Shows sentimental approval (also see next entry)

aww

"That's too bad"

Feeling sorry or pity for someone

aw

"Come on!"

Mild protest

bah

"Whatever"

Dismissive, annoyed
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Dictionary of interjections (aww, oh, ah, eek, oops)

13-06-25 6:27 PM

anyways." boo booh "That's bad" "Boo, get off the stage!" "Brrr, it's -20C outside" "Eeek, a mouse!" "Eep! I didn't mean to say that!" "Eh? I didn't hear what you said." "So she dumped you, eh?" "Ewww, this apple is rotten" "Gah, I give up" "Grrr, I'll kick his ass" "Hmm, I'm not sure about that" "Huh, you were right" "Hurrah, we won!" "Blerch, this apple is rotten" "Meh, whatever you think is best" Disapproval, contempt (also something to yell to surprise people) Being cold, shivering

brr

brrrr

"It's cold"

eek

eeeek

"Help!"

Girly scream. Surprised, scared.

eep

"Oh no!"

Surprise (female)

eh?

huh?

"What?"

Misunderstanding. Also see "eh?" below Stereotypically overused by Canadians

eh?

huh?, eyh? ugh, ewww

"Is that right?"

eww

"Disgusting" "This is hopeless"

Disgust, dislike

gah grr grrrr hm, hmmmm

Exasperation and despair Anger, snarling, growling. Often used for dogs and other animals. Thinking, hesitation.

"I'm angry"

hmm

"I wonder"

huh hurrah hooray, huzzah yuk

"Really?" "Let's celebrate!" "Disgusting"

Mild, indifferent surprise Generic exclaimation of joy

ich

Disgust, dislike

meh

eh

"I don't know"

Indifference

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Dictionary of interjections (aww, oh, ah, eek, oops)

13-06-25 6:27 PM

mhm

mmhm, uh-hu mmm, mmh

"Yes"

"Do you think so too?" "Mhm" "Mmm, this ice cream is delicious" "I switched the sugar and the salt! Muahaha!" "Want another beer?" "Nah, I'm good" "I hit you!" "Nuh-uh!" "Yuh-uh!" "Nuh-uh!" "Oh, you wanted sugar, not milk." "A seven layer wedding cake? Oohla-la!" "Oooh, it's shiny!" "Push on 3.. 1, 2, 3.. oomph!" "Oops, I knocked your cup over" "Oww, I hit my thumb"

Agreement, acknowledgement.

mm

"Lovely"

Pleasure. Sometimes it means "hmm" instead.

muahaha

mwahaha, bwahaha

"I'm so evil!"

Evil villain's triumphant laugh

nah

"No"

Informal no

nuh-uh

nuh-hu, nuhuh

"No, it isn't!"/"Did not!"

Childish negation or refusal

oh

"I see"

Realisation

ooh-la-la

oh-lala

"Fancy!"

An often ironic (or just funny) way indicating that something is fancy or high class Wonder, amazement (ohhh can also mean ahhh) A grunt made on sudden exertion. Also used as a noun to mean "power" or "energy" ("This song needs more oomph!") Being surprised at or acknowledging your own mistakes

ooh

oooh

"Wonderful!"

oomph

umph

"I'm exerting myself"

oops

"I didn't mean to do that" oww, ouch

ow

"That hurts"

Pain

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Dictionary of interjections (aww, oh, ah, eek, oops)

13-06-25 6:27 PM

oy

oi, oyh

"Hey, you!"

"Oy! You forgot your wallet!" "The bills are biling up. Oy..." "Pff, I once caught a fish twice that size" "I didn't do my homework, but the teacher didn't check. Phew!" "Psst. Let's skip the next class!" "Sheesh, now he's drunk again" "Shh, I'm trying to hear what they're saying!" "Tsk-tsk, he is late for work again" "Do you think so too?" "Uhhu" "Uh-oh, I think the bear is inside the house"

Mainly British: Used to get someone's attention, similar to "hey!". Also used disapprovingly ("Oy, you spilled your drink all over me!"). Mainly Jewish: Used to express selfpity, similar to "woe is me!"

oy

oy vay

"Oh no..."

pff

pffh, pssh, pfft

"That's nothing"

Unimpressed

phew

"That was close!"

Expressing relief

psst

Whispering "Hey, you!" "I can't believe this!"

Used to quietly get someone's attention, often to tell them a secret. Exasperation, annoyance (corruption of "Jesus")

sheesh

jeez

shh

hush, shush

"Be quiet"

Used to make someone be quiet

tsk-tsk

tut-tut

"Disappointing"

disappointment, contempt (this is a clicking sound. Clip from Futurama)

uh-hu

uhuh, mhm

"Yes"

Agreement, acknowledgement (easily confused with uh-uh)

uh-oh

oh-oh

"Oh no!"

Concerned for indications that something will happen

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Dictionary of interjections (aww, oh, ah, eek, oops)

13-06-25 6:27 PM

uh-uh

unh-unh

"No"

"Eat your spinach!" "Uh-uh!" "Seven times eight is... uhh... 56" "Weee! Faster!"

Refusal, especially if your mouth is full or if you refuse to open it (easily confused with uhuh) Indicates a pause in, rather than the end of, a sentence Used by children when doing something fun, and often ironically by adults when something is fun but childish Confounded, surprised and amazed. In popular culture, marijuana smokers are often depicted with this exclamation (originally a sound used to make horses stop) Impressed, astonished Generic exclaimation of joy All-purpose cheer. Approval, congratulations and triumph Common slang for "yes", sometimes also used as an interjection. Much like "yahoo", but almost always associated with cowboys. The often ironic/comical, seductive call of a woman to get someone's attention Childish affirmation, often used to counter "nuh-uh!" (not to be confused with yoo-hoo).

uhh

uhm, err

"Wait, I'm thinking"

wee

whee, weee

"This is fun!"

whoa

"Unbelievable!"

"Whoa, I just looked at it and it broke!" "Wow, that's incredible!" "Yippie! We won!" "Yay! We won!" "Yeeeaah! Kick his butt!" "Let's gather some cattle! Yee-haw!" "Yoo-hoo, sugercup! Come give me a hug!" "I hit you!" "Nuh-uh!" "Yuh-uh!" "Nuh-uh!" ... "Yuk, I wouldn't want to touch that"

wow yahoo yay yippie

"Amazing!" "Let's celebrate!" "Yes!"

yeah

yeeeeaah!

"Yes!"

yee-haw

yeehaw

"I'm excited!"

yoo-hoo

yoohoo

"Hey you!"

yuh-uh

yuh-hu, yuhuh

"Yes, it is!"/"Did so!"

yuk

ich, blech, bleh

"Disgusting!"

Disgust, dislike

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Dictionary of interjections (aww, oh, ah, eek, oops)

13-06-25 6:27 PM

zing

ba-dumtss, badum tish

"Haha, well said!"

"You're so stupid, you'd trip over a wireless phone!" "Zing!"

Used (often ironically) to punctuate a punchline or witty comeback. From the sound of a rimshot, played after punchlines in some comedy acts.

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