vaya
/ˈbaʝa/
In Spanish, "oops" can be translated as vaya, ops or ups.
Meaning: acknowledging a minor mistake (intj)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| vaya | /ˈbaʝa/ |
| ops | /ˈobs/ |
| ups | /ˈubs/ |
These terms are used to acknowledge a minor mistake.
Which one should you use?
ups and ops are direct phonetic imitations of the English "oops" and are used for sudden small accidents. In contrast, vaya is often used to express surprise or the realization of a mistake.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ups is an informal interjection used primarily in casual conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈbaʝa/
What mistakes should you avoid?
If you want to express a mix of surprise and concern over a blunder, you might say ¡Ay, no! (Oh no!).
Did you know?
- While ups is a common way to say 'oops', the word vaya is actually a form of the verb ir, meaning 'to go'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a minor 'oops' moment is often accompanied by a quick shrug or a palms-up gesture to signal helplessness.
- The word vaya can be used sarcastically to mock someone else's mistake, effectively turning 'oops' into a critique.
Examples in context
- ¡Ups! ¡Se me escurrió el dedo!Oops! My finger slipped!This sentence shows how to use ups when a finger slips.Tatoeba #4554073 by cueyayotl, translation #4554075 by slyfin
- "¿Trajiste el libro?" "¡Ups! ¡Se me olvidó!""Did you bring the book?" "Oops! I forgot!"This example demonstrates using ups to acknowledge forgetting something.Tatoeba #8605129 by User87977, translation #3616368 by DostKaplan
- ¡Ups! Olvidé traer mi billetera.Oops, I forgot to bring my wallet
- Perdón, cometí un error en el informe.Oops, I made a mistake in the report
- ¡Vaya, rompí el vaso!Oops, I broke the glass!
Example conversation
Lucía and Javier are in the kitchen.
- Lucía¡Vaya, derramé el jugo!Oops, I spilled the juice!
- JavierNo te preocupes, Lucía.Don't worry, Lucía.
- LucíaLo siento mucho, Javier.I am very sorry, Javier.
- JavierEstá bien, yo lo limpio.It's okay, I'll clean it up.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “oops” translations and entries vaya, ops, ups, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ops, vaya, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
