úps
In Irish, "oops" is expressed as úps. Wiktionary also lists hoips.
Meaning: acknowledging a minor mistake (intj)
Ways to say it
| Irish |
|---|
| úps |
| hoips |
Both forms are used as interjections to acknowledge a minor mistake.
Which one should you use?
hoips is a variant spelling of the interjection used to express a minor mistake or mishap.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
úps is an informal loanword used in casual speech to acknowledge a minor mistake.
Did you know?
- While úps is a modern loanword, the traditional native exclamation a dhia literally translates to 'O God', which is much more dramatic than the English 'oops'.
- In many Irish dialects, a mistake that is more than a minor 'oops' might trigger the word arú, a term often used to express a sense of 'oh no' or 'alas'.
- Using hoips can sometimes sound more 'old-fashioned' or rural to certain ears compared to the modern, urban feel of úps.
Examples in context
- Úps, bhí an rud sin mícheart.Oops, that thing was wrong.
Example conversation
Cian accidentally bumps into Aoife while walking.
- CianÚps, gabh mo leithscéal, a Aoife!Oops, excuse me, Aoife!
- AoifeNíl aon fhadhb ann, a Chian.No problem, Cian.
- CianBhí mé beagán tapa demais.I was a bit too fast.
- AoifeTá sé ceart go leor.It is alright.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oops” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
