ay
/ˈai/
The Spanish phrase for the English 'aww' is ay.
In some Spanish-speaking contexts, ay is used as an exclamation of endearment or sympathy, functioning like the English 'aww'.
Which one should you use?
While ay can be used for 'aww' in certain contexts, it is more commonly used to express sudden pain or dismay, similar to 'ow' or 'oh no' in English.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, ¡Ay, qué chulo! can be used to convey a sense of admiration or affection.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈai/
When do people say it?
The exclamation ¡Ay, qué lindo! translates to 'Oh, how cute!' and is used to express adoration or affection. The phrase ¡Qué bonito! means 'How nice!' and is used to express admiration or appreciation. The colloquial expression ¡Qué mono! translates to 'How cute!' and is used to show fondness or to tease someone.
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, ay is often accompanied by a hand gesture to the chest or a slight tilt of the head to emphasize sympathy.
- In some regions, the exclamation ay is doubled to ay ay ay to signal a much stronger emotional reaction, such as deep distress or overwhelming cuteness.
- Depending on the tone, ay can be used sarcastically to mock someone who is acting too sentimental, transforming 'aww' into a tease.
Examples in context
- "Estoy hecho de miel." "Ay, qué dulce eres.""I'm made of honey." "Aww, you're sweet."This sentence shows how to respond to a sweet comment using ay.Tatoeba #10501643 by DJ_Saidez, translation #10501641 by DJ_Saidez
- ¡Ay, qué lindo! ¡Es tan pequeño!Oh, how cute! It's so tiny!
- Me conmueve mucho tu historiaYour story really moves me
- Ay, qué lindo es ese perrito.Aww, that puppy is so cute.
- Ay, me encanta ese regalo.Aww, I love that gift.
Example conversation
Mateo shows Lucía a photo of his kitten.
- MateoMira mi gato nuevo.Look at my new cat.
- LucíaAy, es precioso.Aww, it's precious.
- MateoSe llama Copito.His name is Copito.
- LucíaMe encanta su carita.I love his little face.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
