uy no
/ui no/from spelling rules
The English phrase "oh no" can be translated into Spanish as uy no. Wiktionary also lists ay no.
Meaning: exclamation of alarm (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| uy no | /ui no/ (from spelling rules) |
| ay no | /ai no/ (from spelling rules) |
Both uy no and ay no serve as exclamations of alarm. Uy no is frequently used when one realizes they have forgotten something or made a minor blunder. Ay no is a common informal expression used to express "Oh no".
Which one should you use?
While uy no is often used for a sudden realization or a small mistake, ay no is a more common, slightly more emotive way to express alarm or distress.
How do you pronounce it?
/ui no/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking regions, if you use ay no with a specific rising intonation, you might actually be signaling that you are teasing someone rather than being genuinely alarmed.
- The word uy descends from the Latin word hui, which was used as an interjection to express surprise or call attention.
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, ay no is often accompanied by a dramatic palm-to-forehead gesture or a hand over the heart to emphasize the distress.
Examples in context
- ¡Uy no, se me olvidaron las llaves!Oh no, I forgot my keys!
- Uy no, creo que rompí el vaso.Oh no, I think I broke the glass.
- ¡Uy no, empezó a llover muy fuerte!Oh no, it started raining very hard!
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are in the kitchen when a glass falls.
- Mateo¡Uy no, se cayó la copa!Oh no, the glass fell!
- ElenaNo te preocupes, Mateo, yo limpio todo.Don't worry, Mateo, I will clean everything up.
- MateoEspero que no se haya cortado nadie.I hope nobody got cut.
- ElenaTodo está bien, no te asustes.Everything is fine, don't be scared.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oh no” translations, 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.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ay, no, uy, CC BY-SA 4.0.
