Culture > Linguistics > Interjections

Now updated for CSW19. New words, if any, and new inflections of existing words, are shown in red.

Interjection Noun? Verb? Signifies
aah aahs, aahed, aahing wonder, enlightenment
aargh dismay
aarrgh dismay
aarrghh dismay
ach dismay
achoo achoos a sneeze
addio addios goodbye
adieu adieus, adieux farewell
adios adioses goodbye
ah ahs, ahing, ahed surprise, joy
aha sudden comprehension
ahchoo a sneeze
ahem delicate interruption
ahoy hailing another vessel
aikona (Bantu) it is not; no
aiyee great alarm
alack alackaday grief
alannah alannahs my child!; also a term of address
alas grief
albricias a Spanish expression of joy
alew alews urging on hounds, same as HALLOO
alleluia alleluias praise to God
alleluiah alleluiahs praise to God
allons (French) let's go
aloha alohas (Hawaiian) greeting or farewell
amazeballs an expression of enthusiastic approval
amen amens amens, amened, amening so be it
anan in a moment! coming!
anon in a moment! coming!
apage away, depart, as in 'apage Satanas'
argh dismay
arrah (Irish) wonder etc
arriba (Spanish) pleasure or approval
arrivederci (Italian) till we meet again
atishoo atishoos a sneeze
attaboy attaboys expressing encouragement
attagirl expressing encouragment to a female
augh despair or frustration
avanti forward
avast hold fast!
aw disappointment, sympathy etc
aweel well, well then
ay ays yes
aye ayes yes
baccare back! Stand back!
backare back! Stand back!
bah contempt
banzai banzais (Japanese) warlike shout
barley barleys (Scots) a call for truce
basta enough; stop!
bedad (Irish) by God
begad (Irish) by God
begar begars (Shakesp.) by God
begorah (Irish) by God
begorra (Irish) by God
begorrah (Irish) by God
bejabers bejabbers bejeebers bejaberses (Irish) by Jesus
bejasus bejasuses (Irish) by Jesus
bejeezus bejeezuses (Irish) by Jesus
bejesus bejesuses (Irish) by Jesus
benedicite benedicites bless you; (noun) a grace at table, a blessing
beneplacito good pleasure; by your leave
bethankit bethankits God be thanked; (noun) a grace
bingo bingos bingoes bingoing bingoed surprise at a sudden occurrence
bismillah in the name of Allah
bitte (German) pardon?
blast blasts blasts, blasted, blasting annoyance
blech expressing disgust
bliksem (S. Afr.) expressing surprise
blimey surprise
blimy surprise
boh bohs to startle someone
boing boings boings, boinged, boinging the sound of a bouncing impact
boink boinks boinks, boinked, boinking the sound of a bouncing impact
bonjour good day
bonsoir good evening
boo boos boos, booed, booing making jump; disapproval
bosh nonsense
botheration botherations expressing irritation; (noun) a minor nuisance
brap imitating the sound of a gunshot
brava bravas well done (to a woman)
bravi well done (to a number of people)
bravissimo (Ital.) very well done!
bravo bravos bravoes, bravoed, bravoing well done (to a man)
brr shivering
brrr shivering
bugger buggers buggers, buggered, buggering annoyance; noun and verb forms from other meanings
bumpsadaisy An exclamation on bumping into someone or something, or to a child on falling
byrlady a mild oath: by our Lady
byrlakin a mild oath: by our Lady
caese enough said
capeesh capisce capish asking if one understands
caramba (Spanish) annoyance, surprise etc
ceas enough said
changa (Hinglish) expressing approval or agreement
cheerio cheerios farewell
cheero cheeros farewell
chimo (Inuit) greeting
choof choofs choofs, choofed, choofing (Aust. sl.) vamoose, go away
chur (NZ) an informal expression of agreement
chut chuts, chuted, chuting (French) expressing impatience
ciao (Italian) goodbye
congrats congratulations
cooee cooees cooees, cooeed, cooeeing calling at a distance
cooey cooeys cooeys, cooeyed, cooeying calling at a distance
coraggio courage!
cowabunga expressing delight or satisfaction
cracky a mild oath
crickey a mild oath
cricky a mild oath
crikey a mild oath
crimine surprise or impatience
crimini criminy criminis surprise or impatience
cripe a mild oath
cripes a mild oath
crivens (Scots) dismay
crivvens (Scots) dismay
cushty pleasure or agreement
damme = damn me
dammit = damn it
damn damns damns, damned, damning exasperation
dang dangs dangs, danged, danging = damn, exasperation
darnation darnations exasperation
deek look at, see [Romany dik, to look, see]
deffo definitely
defo definitely
deuce deuces deuces, deucing, deuced annoyance; (verb) to bring a game of tennis to a tie
diddums expressing sympathy to a child
duh an ironic response to a question
dumela (S. Afr.) hello, good morning
ecce behold, here is
ecco behold, here is
ecod a mild oath
eek fright
eew eeew ew expressing disgust
egad a mild oath
egads a mild oath
eh ehs, ehing, ehed inquiry
eina (Afrikaans) expressing sudden pain
eish (S. Afr.) surprise, dismay
entrez (French) come in
er ers (a plant) hesitation
erm hesitation or doubt
euge (Greek) well done
euoi Bacchic frenzy
eureka eurekas discovery
evhoe Bacchic frenzy
evoe Bacchic frenzy
evohe Bacchic frenzy
ewhow alas!
excelsior excelsiors higher! further!; (noun) wood shavings used for packing
faith faiths faiths, faithed, faithing by my faith, indeed; (verb) to believe
faix faith!
fandabidozi expressing enthusiasm or admiration
faugh contempt, disgust
fegs a mild oath
fiddlestick fiddledee nonsense!
fiddlesticks nonsense!
fie reproach; (adj.) fey: FIER, FIEST
floreat floreant may it flourish, may they flourish
foh disgust
forsooth in truth; indeed
fuck fucks fucks, fucked, fucking displeasure; (verb) to copulate with
fudge fudges fudges, fudged, fudging mild expletive; noun and verb forms from other meanings
fy reproach
gad gads gads, gadded, gadding euphemism for God; noun and verb forms from other meanings
gadso surprise
gadzooks a mild oath
gardyloo gardyloos a warning cry given when throwing slops from the window into the street; (noun) the slops so thrown
gawd gawds god
gee gees, geed, geeing surprise; (verb) to urge on
geez consternation
geddit do you get it?
gemini surprise
gemony surprise
geronimo a shout given by US paratroopers as they jump into battle
gertcha get away, get along
gesundheit (German) your health (said to someone who has just sneezed).
giddap gee up
gidday good day
giddup gee up
giddyap gee up
giddyup gee up
gimme gimmes give me!; (noun) a conceded golf putt
goddammit goddamnit expressing anger etc
godden goddens a dialect variant of good evening
godso surprise
godspeed godspeeds goodwill at parting
goldarn goldarns anger
goldurn goldurns anger
golly gollies gollies, gollying, gollied surprise or admiration; (verb) to spit
goodby goodbys
goodbye goodbyes
goodness goodnesses surprise
goodnight goodnights
goody goodies childish pleasure
gor gors God
gorblimey surprise
gorblimy surprise
gosh euphemism for God
gracious surprise
gramercy gramercies gratitude or surprise
grr expressing anger
gup gups remonstrance; (noun) gossip
ha surprise
hadaway urging someone on
haeremai haeremais (Maori) welcome
hah hahs surprise etc
haith by my faith!
hallaloo hallaloos hail
halleluiah halleluiahs a song of praise to God
hallelujah hallelujahs a song of praise to God
hallo hallos halloes, halloed, halloing greeting
halloa halloas halloas, halloaed, halloaing greeting
halloo halloos halloos, hallooed, hallooing greeting
hamba (S. Afr.) go away!
haw haws haws, hawed, hawing hesitation
hech surprise
heck hecks consternation; (noun) a grating
heehaw heehaws, heehawing, heehawed expressing the sound of a donkey
heigh a cry of enquiry, encouragement
hello hellos helloes, helloed, helloing greeting
heureka heurekas discovery
hewgh the whistling of an arrow
hey heys heys, heyed, heying calling attention
hi calling attention
hic a hiccup
hillo hillos hilloes, hilloed, hilloing greeting
hilloa hilloas hilloas, hilloaed, hilloaing greeting
hip hips hips, hipped, hipping approbation; noun and verb forms form other meanings
hist hists, histed, histing attracting attention
hiya greeting
hm hesitation
hmm hesitation
hmmm hesitation
ho hos calling attention, expressing surprise
hoa hoas, hoaed, hoaing expressing surprise
hoh hohs, hohed, hohing calling attention, expressing surprise
hoi hois, hoied, hoiing attracting attention
holla hollas hollas, hollaed, hollaing greeting
holloa holloas holloas, holloaed, holloaing greeting
hollo hollos holloes, holloed, holloing greeting
holloo holloos holloos, hollooed, hollooing greeting
hongi hongis hongis, hongiing, hongied (Maori) greeting, touching nose to nose
hoo boisterous emotion
hooey nonsense, rubbish
hoorah hoorahs hoorahs, hoorahed, hoorahing cheering
hooray hoorays hoorays, hoorayed, hooraying cheering
hooroo goodbye, cheerio
hoosh hooshes, hooshed, hooshing used to drive away animals
horsefeathers nonsense!
hosanna hosannas hosannas, hosannaed, hosannaing praise or adoration
hosannah hosannahs praise or adoration
howdie howdies, howdied, howdying greeting
howzit a greeting
hoy hoys hoys, hoyed, hoying calling attention
huddup get up (to a horse)
huh contempt
huic an interjection to encourage hounds
hullo hullos hulloes, hulloed, hulloing greeting
hulloa hulloas hulloas, hulloaed, hulloaing greeting
hulloo hulloos hulloos, hullooing, hullooed to hail
humf humfs, humfed, humfing contempt, doubt, etc
humph humphs, humphed, humphing contempt, doubt, etc
hunh requesting repeating of an utterance
hup hups, hupped, hupping go on, go faster
hurra hurras, hurraed, hurraing cheering
hurrah hurrahs, hurrahed, hurrahing cheering
hurray hurrays, hurrayed, hurraying cheering
hushaby go to sleep
huzza huzzas, huzzaed, huzzaing cheering
huzzah huzzahs, huzzahed, huzzahing cheering
ichabod 'the glory is departed'
ick icks disgust
igad a mild oath
imshi (army slang) go away
imshy (army slang) go away
indeedy expressing agreement
innit isn't it, used as tag
inshallah if Allah wills
io ios joy, triumph, grief
isit (S. Afr.) indicating attention
ixnay expressing not!
ja yes
jai (Hindi) victory (to)
jambo an E. African salutation
jeepers surprise.
jeesly consternation
jeez consternation
jeeze consternation
jeezely consternation
jeezly consternation
jiminy surprise
jimminy surprise
jinne (Afrikaans) expressing surprise, shock
jirre (Afrikaans) expressing surprise, shock
jokol yes carl
jordeloo jordeloos a warning cry given when throwing slops from the window into the street; (noun) the slops so thrown
kablooey expressing an abrupt happening
kablooie expressing an abrupt happening
kasme (Hinglish) I swear
kerchoo a sneeze
alackaday lackaday regret or deprecation
lawk surprise
lawks surprise
leggo let go!
lemme let me!
lo see, look
lookie look at this!
lookit look at this!
looky look at this!
lor a mild oath = lord
lordy a mild oath
losh a mild oath
lud luds a mild oath = lord
lumme lummy surprise
marry marries, married, marrying, marrieds expostulation; verb/noun forms from other meaning
mazeltov (Yiddish) congratulations
merde merdes (French) shit
migawd expressing surprise
mm agreement
mmm agreement
moryah (Irish) expressing annoyance, disbelief
murdabad (Urdu) death to
musha (Irish) surprise
mwah the sound of a kiss
nae naes (Scots) no.
nah no
namaskar namaskars (India) greeting, accompanied by a slight bow with the palms pressed together before the chest or face.
namaste namastes (India) greeting, accompanied by a slight bow with the palms pressed together before the chest or face.
naw no
nerts disgust
nertz disgust
no nos, noes negation
nooit (Afrikaans) expressing pleased surprise or shock
nope no
nyah expressing contempt for another
och dismay
ochone (Irish) lamentation
odso surprise
odzooks a mild oath
oh ohs, ohed, ohing surprise etc
oho knowingness
ohone (Irish) lamentation
oi drawing attention
ok approval
okeh okehs approval
okeydoke approval
okeydokey approval
ole oles (Spanish) approval
omigod expressing consternation
ooh oohs, oohed, oohing consternation etc
oons God's wounds
oops dismay
ou concession
ouch ouches ouches, ouched, ouching expressing pain; (noun) a socket in which a precious stone is set; (verb) to set a precious stone in a socket
outasight excellent!
ow expressing pain
oyes oyeses, oyesses the call of a public crier for attention before making a proclamation
oyez oyezes the call of a public crier for attention before making a proclamation
pah pahs contempt; (noun) a New Zealand hill fort
pardee assuredly, by God
pardi assuredly, by God
pardie assuredly, by God
pardy assuredly, by God
peccavi peccavis admitting sin or guilt
perdie assuredly, by God
perdy assuredly, by God
perfay by my faith!
pfft sudden ending
pfui scorn, contempt
phew relief, astonishment etc
pho phos disgust
phoh disgust
phooey scorn, contempt
phpht mild irritation or annoyance
pht mild irritation or annoyance
phwoah sexual attraction
phwoar sexual attraction
pish pishes, pished, pishing contempt
pitikins as in ods pitikins
plaudite an appeal for applause at the conclusion of a play or other performance
poh pohs, pohing, pohed contempt
poof contempt, dismissal
pooh poohs, poohed, poohing contempt
powwaw pooh
prithee expressing a wish or request
proface good wishes at meals
prosit a toast to good health
prost a toast to good health
prythee expressing a wish or request
pshaw pshaws, pshawed, pshawing contempt, disdain, dislike, etc
psst attracting attention
pst attracting attention
ptooey ptui expressing the sound of someone spitting
pugh contempt
puh disgust
quaere quaeres inquire (suggesting doubt, or desirability of investigation); (noun) a query
quep remonstrance
quotha surprise or contempt
rabboni rabbonis (Hebrew) my great master
rah rahs, rahed, rahing approbation
righto cheerful consent
rivo a drinking-cry
salaam salaams salaams, salaamed, salaaming salutation; (verb) to perform a low bow with palm on forehead
salut expressing friendship before a drink
salve salves salves, salved, salving a greeting; (noun, verb) ointment
salvete salvetes a greeting, = SALVE but to more than one person
sapperment a German oath
sayonara sayonaras (Japanese) goodbye
sese enough said
sesey enough said
sessa enough said
sh requesting silence
sha requesting silence
shabash (Hinglish) bravo, well done
shaddup shut up!
shalom shaloms (Jewish) peace, used as a salutation at meeting or parting: peace
shh requesting silence
shhh requesting silence
shazam a magical invocation
sheesh expressing consternation or surprise
sholom sholoms (Jewish) peace, used as a salutation at meeting or parting: peace
shoo shoos, shooed, shooing driving away
shucks deprecation
sies (S. Afr.) expressing disgust
sirree sirrees used for emphasis with yes or no
sithee look here
sjoe (S. Afr.) expressing surprise, admiration
skoal skoals, skoaled, skoaling a drinking toast; (verb) to propose such a toast
skol skols, skoling, skoled a drinking toast
slainte good health!
soho a huntsman's halloo
sonties a mild oath
sooey used to call pigs
st requesting silence
strewth a mild oath
ta tas expressing thanks.
taihoa (Maori) hold on!
tallyho tallyhos tallyhos or tallyhoes, tallyhoed, tallyhoing (noun) a hunting cry given on the sighting of the quarry; (verb) to give this cry.
tantivy tantivies imitative of a hunting horn; (noun) a headlong gallop
tarantara tarantaras tarantaras, tarantaraed, tarantaraing imitative of a hunting cry; (noun) a hunting cry; (verb) to make this
taratantara taratantaras taratantaras taratantaraed taratantaraing imitative of a hunting cry; (noun) a hunting cry; (verb) to make this
thankee thank you
thanx thank you
toho tohos a hunter's call to pointers or setters to stop
toots tootses, tootsed, tootsing (Scots) disapproval
troggs by my troth
tsk tsks, tsked, tsking disapproval
tsktsk tsktsks, tsktsked, tsktsking disapproval
tunket tunkets hell!
tush tushes, tushed, tushing disapproval
tut tuts, tutted, tutting rebuke, mild disapprobation
tuts tuts, tutsed, tutsing (Scots) rebuke, mild disapprobation
uds a mild oath: God's or God save
ugh ughs repugnance
uh surprise
um ums, umming, ummed doubt or hesitation
umm doubt or hesitation
umph umphs doubt or dissatisfaction
unberufen (German) an exclamation to avert ill luck following boasting
upadaisy upsadaisy said to a child who has fallen over
upsey upseys a bacchanalian cry; (noun) a carousal
ur hesitation
vale vales (Latin) farewell, to one person
valete valetes (Latin) farewell, to more than one person
varoom varooms, varoomed, varooming the sound of an engine revving or of a car travelling at high speed
viva vivas vivas, vivaed, vivaing long live
vivat vivats long live
voila (French) there it is
voertsak voertsek voetsak voetsek (S. Afr.) an offensive expression of rejection
vroom vrooms, vroomed, vrooming the sound of an engine revving or of a car travelling at high speed
waah imitative of wailing
waly walies alas! Pl. is from noun WALY, finery.
waesuck pity, alas!
waesucks pity, alas!
wassup what's up
watcha greeting
wayleggo (NZ) a shepherd's call to his dog
welladay alas
welladays alas
wellanear alas
wellaway alas
wellaways alas
whammo whammos violent impact
whamo violent impact
whang whangs whangs, whanged, whanging imitative of a resounding impact
whatcha greeting
whatevs expressing indifference
whee delight
wheesh wheeshes, wheeshed, wheeshing calling for silence
wheesht wheeshts, wheeshted, wheeshting calling for silence
wheugh wheughs, wheughed, wheughing whews, whewed, whewing wonder, relief
whew whews, whewed, whewing wonder, relief
whirra expressing sorrow
whish whishes, whished, whishing imitative of a rushing sound or movement; (verb) to rush, whiz
whisht wisht whishts, whishted, whishting calling for silence
whoa stop
whoopee whoopie an exclamation of delight
whoops concern
whoosh whooshes, whooshed, whooshing imitative of something large rushing through the air; (verb) to make this sound
whow whows, whowed, whowing being impressed
wilco cooperation
wirra sorrow
wisha surprise [Irish mhuis]
woah a call to stop
woohoo joy, approval
wotcha greeting
wotcher greeting
wow wows, wowed, wowing being impressed; (verb) to impress e.g. an audience
wowee being impressed
yah yahs derision
yay yays enthusiastic affirmation
yeah affirmation
yebo (S. Afr.) yes, I agree
yecch yecchs disgust
yech yechs disgust
yeesh expressing frustration
yeh affirmation
yeow expressing pain or shock
yep yeps affirmation
yes yeses yesses, yessed, yessing affirmation
yessir expressing agreement
yessiree expressing agreement
yessum expressing agreement to a woman
yez yes
yike alarm
yikes alarm
yipe fear or surprise
yipes fear or surprise
yippee delight
yo calling for effort or attention
yoick yoicks, yoicked, yoicking a hunting cry to urge the hounds after the fox
yoicks yoickses, yoicksed, yoicksing a hunting cry to urge the hounds after the fox
yoop yoops representing a sobbing sound
yowza expressing surprise
yucch disgust
yuch disgust
yuk yuks, yukked, yukking disgust; (verb) to laugh loudly
yum expressing relish
yummy yummies expressing relish; (adj.) delicious: YUMMIER, YUMMIEST
yup yups affirmation
zindabad (Hindi) long live
zooks a mild oath (God's hooks)
zounds a mild oath (God's wounds)
zowee expressing surprise
zowie expressing surprise
zzz expressing sleep