ôi trời ơi
[ʔoj˧˧ t͡ɕəːj˨˩ ʔəːj˧˧]word by word
The Vietnamese phrase for "oh my gosh" is ôi trời ơi.
ôi trời ơi is used to express a wide range of sudden emotions, including surprise, shock, frustration or excitement.
Meaning: oh my God (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ôi (oh), trời (sky or heaven) and ơi (a particle used to call out to someone or something).
Which one should you use?
While ôi trời ơi is a full expression, you can also use the shorter and very common version trời ơi to mean "oh my god".
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Southern Vietnam, locals may use the informal expression Trời Ơi Đất Hỡi, which translates to "Heavens and Earth", to express astonishment or surprise.
Did you know?
- The sound of ôi is actually related to ancient words describing something rotten or putrid. While the meanings are vastly different now, they share a common linguistic ancestor.
- The particle ơi used to grab attention is part of a linguistic pattern found across Southeast Asia, appearing in similar forms in Khmer and Thai.
- Depending on the region, the word for 'sky' in this phrase might change from trời to giời in Northern Vietnam. While the written form is standard, the spoken Northern variation giời is a distinct local legacy.
Examples in context
- Ôi trời ơi, thật là đẹp!Oh my gosh, it is so beautiful!
- Ôi trời ơi, tôi quên mất rồi.Oh my gosh, I forgot.
- Ôi trời ơi, chuyện gì thế này?Oh my gosh, what is happening?
Example conversation
Mai and Minh are looking at a very expensive menu.
- MaiÔi trời ơi, món này đắt quá!Oh my gosh, this dish is too expensive!
- MinhĐúng vậy, mình không mua nổi.That's true, I can't afford it.
- MaiChúng ta chọn món khác đi.Let's choose another dish.
- MinhĐồng ý, mình cũng thấy vậy.I agree, I think so too.
