boah
/boːə̯/
The German way to say whoa is boah. If unsure, use boah. Wiktionary also lists boa and oha.
Meaning: expression of surprise (intj)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| boah | /boːə̯/ /bɔɐ̯/ |
|
| boa | ||
| oha | /oːˈha(ː)/ /ˈoːha(ː)/ |
|
| öha | dialectal | |
| eha | dialectal |
boah is an interjection similar to the English 'wow', used to express surprise, amazement, disbelief or the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Which one should you use?
While the English 'whoa' is often used as a command to tell someone or something to slow down, the German boah is primarily used to express astonishment.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
boah is a colloquial term. Other forms such as boa, oha, öha and eha also exist.
Is it said differently in some regions?
öha and eha are dialectal forms.
How do you pronounce it?
/boːə̯/
Did you know?
- If a German speaker uses boah followed by a sarcastic tone, it can actually mean they are not impressed at all, functioning as a linguistic eye-roll.
- The word boah is an onomatopoeic expression, meaning it is intended to mimic the sound of a sharp intake of breath caused by shock.
- Unlike the English 'whoa', which often stops a horse, the German equivalent for calming an animal is halt or stopp. Using boah in a stable would likely just confuse the animal.
Examples in context
- Boah, is der groß!Whoa, that one's big!This sentence is useful for expressing surprise at the size of something using boah.
- Boah, Sie müssen mal das Ding in die Reinigung bringen.Whoa, you have to take that thing to the dry cleaners.This sentence is useful for expressing surprise or emphasis using boah.Tatoeba #11382827 by mutskt, translation #11382829 by mutskt
- Boah, hast du das gesehen? Das ist ja der Wahnsinn!Whoa, did you see that? That's insane!
- Boah, das ist ja unglaublich!Whoa, that is just unbelievable!
Example conversation
Hannah and Lukas are looking at a very large, modern house.
- HannahBoah, schau dir dieses Haus an!Whoa, look at this house!
- LukasEs ist wirklich riesig, oder?It is really huge, isn't it?
- HannahJa, Lukas, es ist wunderschön.Yes, Lukas, it is beautiful.
- LukasDas stimmt, es ist beeindruckend.That's true, it is impressive.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “whoa” translations and entries boah, oha, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
