oh vaya
/o baʝa/from spelling rules
The English phrase "oh wow" can be translated into Spanish as oh vaya.
While oh vaya works for general amazement, the standalone interjection ¡Vaya! can also convey disappointment or sarcasm depending on the speaker's tone, much like saying "Wow, how great…" when being sarcastic. For expressing amazement and astonishment informally, you might also use ¡Esto es alucinante!
What does it mean word for word?
The word vaya is the subjunctive form of the verb ir (to go), used here as an interjection to express surprise, meaning "go" or "wow".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a more formal way to convey a sense of wonder and awe, you can use ¡Qué asombroso! In informal situations, you can use ¡Guau! to mimic the sound of an exclamation or ¡No me digas! to express surprise or disbelief, which translates to "you don't say".
How do you pronounce it?
/o baʝa/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the word guau is used for 'wow', but it is also the exact same word used for the sound a dog makes, 'woof'.
- While oh vaya is a direct translation for 'oh wow', using ¡Qué fuerte! is a very common way in Spain to express shock or disbelief at a piece of news.
- The word alucinante, used for 'wow', comes from the verb alucinar, which describes the sensation of seeing things that are not there, like a hallucination.
Examples in context
- Oh vaya, eres veloz.Oh wow, you are fast.This sentence is useful for showing how to use oh vaya to comment on speed.Tatoeba #1672039 by marcelostockle, translation #1671771 by Spamster
- Oh vaya, él es veloz.Oh wow, he's fast.This sentence is useful for showing how to use oh vaya when talking about someone else's speed.Tatoeba #1672038 by marcelostockle, translation #1671772 by Spamster
- Vaya, esto es impresionante.Wow, this is impressive.
- ¡Increíble! No puedo creer lo que estoy viendo.Oh wow! I can't believe what I'm seeing.
- ¡Qué asombroso! Nunca había visto algo tan impresionante.Oh wow! I've never seen something so impressive.
- ¡Guau, esto es genial!Oh wow, this is awesome!
- ¡No me digas! No tenía idea de que fueras tan talentoso.Oh wow! I had no idea you were so talented.
- ¡Esto es alucinante! Nunca había visto algo tan increíble.Oh wow! I've never seen something so incredible.
- Oh vaya, qué sorpresa.Oh wow, what a surprise.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Daniel are looking at a beautiful painting.
- ElenaOh vaya, esto es impresionante.Oh wow, this is impressive.
- DanielSí, me gusta mucho el color.Yes, I really like the color.
- ElenaLos detalles son increíbles.The details are incredible.
- DanielEs una obra maestra.It is a masterpiece.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
