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oww

oww

22 9.3
A short cry you make when something suddenly hurts
  • interjection
  • /aʊ/
  • Informal
translation icon : ay
  • Oww! That really hurt when I stubbed my toe.
  • oww! Ow
  • Ouch! oww
  • Oh, oww

Examples

  • Oww! What the hell did you do that for?!

    Fiction book (1999)
  • " Oww... what... who... "

    Fiction book (1990)
  • " Oww, " she said.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Oww! Val, you hurt me...!

    Fiction book (1990)
  • Oww, oww, oww!

    Blog text (7)
  • Oh, oww!

  • Hey! Oww!

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Oww, oww, oww!

    Blog text (7)
  • Oww!

  • Oww, oww, oww!

    Blog text (7)

Synonyms

ugh
vsoww
  • Informal
282 7.9

A short sound people make to show disgust or annoyance

is centered on sudden pain or discomfort rather than disgust
ouch
vsoww
  • Informal
134 2.8

A short cry people make when they feel sudden physical or emotional pain

is the plain sudden pain or discomfort exclamation without extra tones
ahh
vsoww
24 7.9

A short cry people make when they feel sudden pain or shock

focuses on sudden pain or discomfort rather than surprise
yow
vsoww
  • Informal
13 9.9

A short cry said to show surprise, excitement, or sudden pain

focuses on sudden pain or discomfort without implying excitement
ach
vsoww
7 9.9

A short sound people make to show surprise, pain, or annoyance

keeps to sudden pain or discomfort without added annoyance
oooh
vsoww
  • Informal
7 9.1

A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain

marks sudden pain or discomfort more strongly rather than mildly
aagh
vsoww
  • Informal
3 9.9

A short cry people make when they feel pain or are annoyed

is limited to sudden pain or discomfort without frustration
och
vsoww
  • UK
2 9.9

A short word people say to show surprise, mild pain, or strong feeling

is the general sudden pain or discomfort exclamation without regional tone
aaahh
vsoww
  • Informal
2 9.9

A short cry that shows fear, pain, or alarm

is the basic sudden pain or discomfort cry rather than a scream
aiee
vsoww
  • Informal
1 9.9

A short cry showing surprise, pain, or fear

is about sudden pain or discomfort without the same urgent alarm
augh
vsoww
  • Informal
9.9

A short cry showing sudden pain or hurt

is the neutral sudden pain or discomfort expression without extra emphasis
yowie
vsoww
  • Australian
9.9

A short cry people say when surprised, hurt, or disgusted

is used for sudden pain or discomfort without disgust

How Painful

ouch
  • Informal
134 2.8
oww
  • Informal
22 9.3

Surface Forms

oww main

Etymology

Oww is the simple sound people make when they feel sudden pain, like ow or ouch. So we use it as a quick cry to show hurt.