o rany
/ɔ‿ˈra.nɘ/
The English phrase "oh my gosh" can be translated into Polish as o rany.
o rany is an informal exclamation used to express surprise, shock or dismay. It serves as a mild way to react to a situation without using a religious term.
Meaning: oh my God (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, o rany translates to "oh wounds".
Which one should you use?
While o rany is a mild exclamation similar to "oh my gosh", the phrase o mój Boże is the direct equivalent of "oh my God" and can carry a stronger religious or emotional weight.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
o rany is an informal expression. Another informal option is O kurczę!, which means "Oh dear!"
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ɔ‿ˈra.nɘ/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the 2nd syllable.
Did you know?
- The phrase o rany is actually a shortened version of rany boskie, which means 'divine wounds'.
- If you want to be even more indirect, you can use o kurczę, which literally translates to 'oh chicken'.
- If you want to sound even more surprised, you can lengthen the word to o rany rany!, which acts like saying 'oh boy, oh boy!' in English.
Examples in context
- O kurczę! Nie miałem pojęcia!Oh dear! I had no idea!
- O rany, ale to jest duże!Oh my gosh, this is so big!
- O rany, znowu spóźniłem się na autobus.Oh my gosh, I missed the bus again.
Example conversation
Agnieszka and Piotr are looking at a very expensive-looking jewelry shop window.
- AgnieszkaO rany, zobacz ten pierścionek!Oh my gosh, look at this ring!
- PiotrJest niesamowity, ale strasznie drogi.It is amazing, but terribly expensive.
- AgnieszkaMasz rację, Piotr.You are right, Piotr.
- PiotrMoże kupimy go na rocznicę?Maybe we will buy it for our anniversary?
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry o rany, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries o, o rany, rany, CC BY-SA 4.0.
