¡uy!
The Spanish way to say "whoops" is ¡uy!
¡uy! is an exclamation used to react to minor, sudden accidents or mistakes, such as when you almost trip or drop a pen. You can also use the informal term Ups to express a small mistake or surprise, which is very similar to the English "oops".
Which one should you use?
While ¡uy! is used for the sudden realization of a mistake or a near-miss, the word ¡ay! is used to express physical pain or a stronger emotional reaction to a mishap.
Did you know?
- A long, drawn-out ¡uuuy! is often used as a playful tool to tease someone about a romantic attraction or a secret crush.
- In certain social contexts, ¡uy! can be used sarcastically to react to scandalous gossip, acting more like a verbal 'yikes' than a 'whoops'.
- While English speakers often use 'whoops' to take responsibility for their own error, Spanish speakers frequently use ¡uy! to react to a mistake or near-miss committed by someone else.
Examples in context
- Ay, lo sientoOh, I'm sorry
- Disculpe, no lo viExcuse me, I didn't see you
- Ay, cometí un error al calcular los números.Whoops, I made a mistake when calculating the numbers.
- Ups, se me cayóWhoops, it slipped from my hands
- Ups, se me olvidó apagar el horno.Whoops, I forgot to turn off the oven.
- ¡Jolín, me equivoqué de día en la cita!Whoops, I got the day wrong for the appointment!
- ¡Uy!, se me cayó la llave.Whoops, I dropped my key.
- ¡Uy!, casi rompo el vaso.Whoops, I almost broke the glass.
- ¡Uy!, escribí mal tu nombre.Whoops, I wrote your name wrong.
Example conversation
Daniel accidentally bumps into a table in the kitchen.
- Daniel¡Uy!, perdón, Lucía.Whoops, sorry, Lucía.
- LucíaNo pasa nada, Daniel.It's okay, Daniel.
- DanielEs que no vi la mesa.It's just that I didn't see the table.
- LucíaTranquilo, no se rompió nada.Calm down, nothing broke.
