oh
/ˈo/
The English expression of surprise 'oh' can be translated into Spanish as oh, ay or ou.
Meaning: expression of surprise (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| oh | /ˈo/ |
| ay | /ˈai/ |
| ou | /ou/ (from spelling rules) |
The word is used as an interjection to express surprise. ay is an informal interjection of surprise or mild pain that can be translated as oh or ouch.
Which one should you use?
While 'oh' is used for surprise, ay is more commonly used to express sudden pain, distress or fear.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈo/
Did you know?
- In certain contexts, ay can be used as a playful or flirtatious exclamation, especially in traditional folk songs like boleros.
- The interjection ay can be confused with the word hay, which means 'there is' or 'there are', though they sound similar in some dialects.
- While ay expresses sudden pain, saying ay de mí is a dramatic way to say 'woe is me' or 'alas'.
Examples in context
- ¡Ay si te agarro!Oh, if I catch you!Tatoeba #1369618 by hayastan, translation #1369208 by bufo
- ¡Oh, pobre de mí!Oh, woe is me!Tatoeba #1956872 by marcelostockle, translation #1956871 by marcelostockle
- ¡Oh no! ¿En serio?Oh no, really?Tatoeba #2530450 by marcelostockle, translation #33007 by AlanF_US
- ¡Oh! No me di cuenta de que era tu cumpleaños. Lo siento.Oh! I didn't realize it was your birthday. I'm sorry.
- ¡Vaya! No esperaba que vinieras hoy.Oh! I didn't expect you to come today.
- ¡Ay! Me quemé con el agua caliente.Oh! I burned myself with the hot water.
- 117 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Alejandro shows Elena a surprise gift.
- AlejandroMira lo que te traje.Look what I brought you.
- Elena¡Oh! ¿Para mí?Oh! For me?
- AlejandroSí, feliz cumpleaños, Elena.Yes, happy birthday, Elena.
- Elena¡Muchas gracias, Alejandro!Thank you so much, Alejandro!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oh” translations and entries oh, ay, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
