vay canına
/vaj d͡ʒanɯna/from spelling rules
The English phrase "wow" can be translated into Turkish as vay canına. If unsure, use vay canına. Wiktionary also lists oha!
Meaning: amazement (intj)
Ways to say it
| Turkish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| vay canına | /vaj d͡ʒanɯna/ (from spelling rules) | |
| oha! | colloquial |
Vay canına is used to express amazement and can convey both positive amazement, such as seeing a beautiful view and neutral surprise, such as noticing a sudden change in the weather.
Which one should you use?
Vay canına is a standard and polite way to express amazement, while oha! is a much more informal expression used to express shock or disbelief.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Vay canına is the polite, standard form. Oha! is a colloquial and slangy exclamation that is highly informal. It can be seen as rude or impolite in formal settings.
How do you pronounce it?
The sounds are as follows: [v] as in vase, [y] as in yes, [j] as in jump, [n] as in not and the vowel [ɯ] is somewhat like the sound in ribbon.
Did you know?
- While oha! is used for shock today, it was originally a command used to tell a horse or ox to stop moving.
- The word vay in vay canına is a distant linguistic relative of the English word 'woe'. They both share a common ancestor that expresses distress or lamentation.
- If someone says oha! to you, they might not just be expressing their own surprise, but could be indirectly telling you that your behavior is outrageous or unacceptable.
Examples in context
- Vay canına, bu çok büyük.Wow, that's so big.This sentence uses vay canına to express amazement at size.Tatoeba #5767973 by duran, translation #890494 by Scott
- Vay canına, bu ne sürpriz!Wow, what a surprise!This sentence uses vay canına to react to a surprise.Tatoeba #5713614 by duran, translation #5713482 by CK
- Vay canına, hava bugün sıcak.Wow, it's hot today.This sentence uses vay canına to comment on the weather.Tatoeba #2072419 by duran, translation #455065 by CM
- Yaşasın! İlk sınavımda en yüksek notu aldım!Wow! I got the highest grade on my first exam!
- 3 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Emre and Elif are looking at a beautiful view from a balcony.
- EmreVay canına, manzara harika!Wow, the view is wonderful!
- ElifEvet, gerçekten büyüleyici.Yes, it is truly enchanting.
- EmreDaha önce hiç böyle görmemiştim.I have never seen anything like this before.
- ElifBen de çok şaşırdım.I was very surprised too.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “wow” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Turkish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries vay, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
