ohlalá
/olala/from spelling rules
The phrase ohlalá in Spanish translates to 'oh la la'.
The phrase ohlalá is used to express the English phrase 'oh la la'.
How do you pronounce it?
/olala/
Did you know?
- While ohlalá mimics French, the similar-sounding word ojalá originates from the Arabic phrase wa shā' Allāh, meaning 'and may God will it'.
- Using ohlalá in a Spanish conversation can often come across as ironic or mocking, rather than actually being elegant.
- Despite being written in Spanish, ohlalá is actually a direct phonetic loanword from French. It is not a native Spanish expression and is used primarily to mimic the 'flair' or 'chic' associated with French culture.
Example conversation
Sofía shows Daniel her new jewelry.
- SofíaMira el collar que me compré, Daniel.Look at the necklace I bought, Daniel.
- Daniel¡Ohlalá! Es realmente brillante y hermoso.Oh la la! It is really shiny and beautiful.
- SofíaGracias, me encanta cómo brilla.Thank you, I love how it shines.
- DanielTe queda perfecto, Sofía.It looks perfect on you, Sofía.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
