oh wow
The Italian phrase for 'oh wow' is oh wow.
It is commonly used in casual settings, particularly by younger generations.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
oh wow is an informal expression. For a slang alternative meaning 'What a cool thing', you can use Che figata! If you want an informal expression similar to the English 'No way!', use Ma dai!
Did you know?
- The exclamation Ma dai! literally translates to 'But give!', which sounds strange to an English speaker. In context, however, it serves the exact communicative function of 'No way!' or 'Oh wow!'
- While oh wow is common among youth, older Italians are more likely to use ammazza or accipiccolla to express the same feeling of shock or awe.
- While oh wow is used by young Italians, it is actually an 'Anglicism' borrowed directly from English. Using it makes a speaker sound modern or international rather than traditional.
Examples in context
- Oh wow, è veloce.Oh wow, you are fast.This sentence is useful for showing surprise at how fast someone is.Tatoeba #2745659 by Guybrush88, translation #1671771 by Spamster
- Oh wow, lui è veloce.Oh wow, he's fast.This sentence is useful for showing surprise at how fast he is.Tatoeba #2745662 by Guybrush88, translation #1671772 by Spamster
- Oh wow, guarda quello!Oh wow, look at that!
- Ma dai! Che sorpresa fantastica!No way! What a fantastic surprise!
- Che meraviglia! Davvero impressionante!How marvelous! Truly impressive!
- Oh wow, che figata!Oh wow, what a cool thing!
- Oh wow, che bella vista!Oh wow, what a beautiful view!
- 8 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofia shows Francesco a beautiful sunset from the balcony.
- FrancescoGuarda il tramonto, Sofia.Look at the sunset, Sofia.
- SofiaOh wow, è incredibile!Oh wow, it's incredible!
- FrancescoVero? È davvero magico.Right? It's truly magical.
- SofiaMi piace moltissimo.I love it very much.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
