ой
oj[oj]
The Russian phrase for "ow" is ой (oj).
ой is an exclamation used to express sudden pain or a mild mistake.
How do you pronounce it?
oj
Did you know?
- In Russian, ой can be used as a gentle way to start a sentence when correcting someone else, acting as a social cushion to make the correction sound less aggressive.
- The sound of ой is also found in the Yiddish word oy, meaning the two languages share a phonetic reaction to discomfort despite their different origins.
- While ой is a short outburst, the slightly longer ой-ой-ой can express much deeper distress or even mock-seriousness, such as when someone is being jokingly lectured.
Examples in context
- Ой! Это кофе горячее!Ow! This coffee is hot!This sentence shows how to use ой to react to hot coffee.Tatoeba #4467338 by Selena777, translation #4362627 by corbinjurgens
- Ой! Мне на голову яблоко упало.Ow! An apple fell on my head.This sentence shows how to use ой when an object falls on you.Tatoeba #13542541 by Wezel, translation #10068547 by sundown
- «Ваше величество, а вот и я ой, а-ай!» «Ау! Ты, говнюк! Ты врезался в меня!» «Ваше лицо пострадало? Прошу прощения». «Да неужели! Взгляни на моё лицо». «По-моему, с вашим лицом всё в порядке». «Оно болит». «Как скажете». «Исправь мне лицо». «…» «Исправь его!» «Как скажете»."Your Majesty, here I come uh-oh, ah!" "Ow! You shitface! You crashed into me!" "Has your face been harmed? I'm sorry." "No shit, Sherlock! Look at my face." "Your face looks fine to me." "It hurts." "Whatever." "Fix my face." "…" "Fix it!" "Whatever."This sentence shows how ой is used during a sudden, clumsy interaction.Tatoeba #4071743 by Ooneykcall, translation #4071698 by Ooneykcall
- Ой, упала и ушибласьOw, I fell and bruised myself.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anastasia accidentally drops a glass on the floor.
- Анастасия AnastasiaОй! Я разбила стакан.Oy! Ya razbila stakan.Ow! I broke the glass.
- Александр AleksandrТы в порядке, Анастасия?Ty v poryadke, Anastasiya?Are you okay, Anastasia?
- Анастасия AnastasiaДа, но я немного испугалась.Da, no ya nemnogo ispugalas.Yes, but I got a little scared.
- Александр AleksandrОтойди, я всё уберу.Otoydi, ya vsyo uberu.Step back, I'll clean it all up.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ой, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ой, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
