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wah

wah

26 9.9
A short cry showing pain or mocking someone's complaint
  • interjection
  • /wɑ/
  • Offensive
translation icon : bua
  • He's not destroying the country fast enough for me! Wah!
  • wah, ah!
  • Oh, wah

Examples

  • Oh, wah, I wanna go home, I wanna go home.

  • Wah!

  • Wah wah wah!

  • Wah!

  • Wah! Bush gave my Lord and Savior a bad economy! Wah! It's Bush's fault! Wah!

    Blog text (12)
  • Wah! Bush gave my Lord and Savior a bad economy! Wah! It's Bush's fault! Wah!

    Blog text (12)
  • Wah! Bush gave my Lord and Savior a bad economy! Wah! It's Bush's fault! Wah!

    Blog text (12)
  • He read, howling through his tubular mouth hole into the gathering crowd: "Wah, wah, wah, wah!"

    Fiction book (1995)
  • WAH!

  • She whined, "Wah, I don't want to go to school today!"

Synonyms

ugh
vswah
  • Informal
282 7.9

A short sound people make to show disgust or annoyance

uses a whining sound to imitate a complaint rather than express disgust
bah
vswah
  • Informal
40 9.3

A short sound people make to show they feel annoyed or do not believe something

uses a whining crylike sound rather than blunt scorn
ahh
vswah
24 7.9

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

uses a drawn whine to show complaint rather than a quick pain reaction
oww
vswah
  • Informal
22 9.3

A short cry you make when something suddenly hurts

uses a whining sound to signal complaint rather than sudden sharp pain
hah
vswah
  • Informal
18 8.9

A quick sound that shows scorn or disbelief

uses a whining cry to mock complaints rather than sharp disbelief
aargh
vswah
  • Informal
8 9.9

A loud cry made when people feel frustrated, hurt, or surprised

uses a whiny cry imitation rather than a loud sudden shout
urgh
vswah
  • UK
7 9.3

A sound people make to show disgust or annoyance

uses a whining cry to mock complaint rather than express disgust
aagh
vswah
  • Informal
3 9.9

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

uses a whining cry sound to imitate complaint rather than sharp pain
aaahh
vswah
  • Informal
2 9.9

A short cry that shows fear, pain, or alarm

uses a drawn whine to show complaint rather than a short scream
argh
vswah
  • Informal
1 9.8

A short sound that shows frustration or annoyance

uses a drawn whining sound rather than a short angry outburst
yow
vswah
  • Informal
1 9.9

A loud cry made suddenly to show pain, surprise, or alarm

uses a whining sound that imitates complaint rather than a sudden cry
awww
vswah
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A short sound people use to make fun of someone's complaint or bad luck

uses a whining sound rather than simple condescending pity
heehaw
vswah
  • Informal
1 9.9

A loud, rough cry showing laughter or mocking someone

uses a whiny cry sound rather than an animal bray imitation
phoo
vswah
  • UK
1 9.9

A short sound showing dislike or disbelief

uses a whining sound rather than direct contempt or dismissal
foh
vswah
  • Slang
1 9.9

A short sound to show disbelief or dislike

uses an imitative crying tone rather than brief scornful dismissal
harrumph
vswah
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A short gruff sound that shows annoyance or disapproval

uses an overt whining sound rather than a quiet grumble of disapproval
poh
vswah
  • Archaic
9.9

A short word people say to show they do not believe or respect something

uses a modern whining cry imitation rather than archaic dismissal
hoi
vswah
  • UK
9.9

A short shout to get attention, for example to show surprise or annoyance

uses an imitative whining cry rather than an attention-calling exclamation
yowie
vswah
  • Australian
9.9

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

uses a whining tone to imitate a complaint rather than general surprise
swounds
vswah
  • Archaic
9.9

An old word people say to show surprise, anger, or shock

uses a modern whiny cry to mock or show distress rather than archaic shock

Surface Forms

wah main

Etymology

Wah comes from the simple sound people make when they cry or whine, like a baby's 'wah'. A helpful way to remember it is that it copies that small cry, so people use wah to show real distress or to mock someone's complaint.