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woah

woah

14 8.8
A short cry people use to show surprise or amazement
  • interjection
  • /woʊ/
  • Informal
translation icon : guau
  • Woah, I did not mean to scare you.
  • woah, babe
  • woah, baby

I really like, woah, love it.

Examples

  • Wait, woah, woah, I like that

  • "Woah, woah, wait a second," says Ed.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Woah, woah, woah, why do you say it like that?

  • Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah!

  • Woah, Woah, Woah... now wait a second here.

  • Woah, every one of these comments is incredibly smart and thoughtful.

    Blog text (8)
  • After the game was over, the TV cameras focused on some of the fans whose expressions spoke volumes: "Woah."

    Blog text (24)
  • Every single one of us shushed him: "Woah!"

    Blog text (2)
  • Phil says, "Woah," around a mouthful of provolone.

    Fiction book (1991)

Synonyms

oh
vswoah
1.0

Show a sudden feeling like surprise or understanding

is focused specifically on surprise, amazement, or disbelief
ah
vswoah
1.0

A short sound people make to show surprise, relief, or pleasure

is used chiefly for surprise, amazement, or disbelief instead
whoa
vswoah
  • Informal
7.2

To say when surprised or when you want someone to stop suddenly

is used only for surprise or disbelief, not for stopping action
ooh
vswoah
  • Informal
7.2

A short sound people make to show surprise or pleasure

is used more for plain surprise or disbelief instead of admiration
wow
vswoah
  • Informal
1.0

A short word people say to show surprise or admiration

tends to signal disbelief rather than admiration or excitement
aah
vswoah
  • Informal
932 6.9

A sound people say to show surprise, relief, or pleasure

is used specifically for surprise, amazement, or disbelief
heh
vswoah
  • Informal
380 9.3

A short sound people make to show mild amusement or slight disbelief

is stronger in surprise or disbelief rather than mild irony
what the hell
vswoah
  • NSFW
347 8.9

An angry or surprised question showing you do not believe something

is a less charged exclamation mainly for surprise or disbelief
ahh
vswoah
101 8.8

A short sound people make when they feel relief, pleasure, or sudden understanding

signals surprise or amazement rather than relief or gentle understanding
what the heck
vswoah
  • Informal
90 8.9

A short cry to show surprise, confusion, disbelief, or casual acceptance

is a simple interjection used for surprise or disbelief
whew
vswoah
  • Informal
85 7.0

A short sound people make to show relief, surprise, or tiredness

is mainly for surprise or disbelief rather than relief
hah
vswoah
  • Informal
76 4.6

A short laugh showing surprise or small victory

is reserved for surprise, amazement, or disbelief without laughter
wha
vswoah
  • Informal
61 9.9

A short informal word people say to show surprise or ask someone to repeat

is used mainly to express surprise or disbelief, not to request repeats
aaah
vswoah
  • Informal
34 8.4

A sound people make when they suddenly understand or feel pleased

is mainly for surprise, amazement, or disbelief without other feelings
oooh
vswoah
  • Informal
31 8.7

A quiet sound people make when they are surprised or impressed

is the simple exclamation for surprise or disbelief without stretch
aaaah
vswoah
  • Informal
30 7.5

A short loud sound people make to show strong feeling, like fear or surprise

focuses on surprise, amazement, or disbelief rather than fear or pain
holy shit
vswoah
  • Offensive
26 9.9

A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or shocked

is a cleaner, nonprofane form for the same emotion
sheesh
vswoah
  • Slang
22 9.8

A short word people say to show surprise, admiration, or annoyance

is focused only on surprise or disbelief, not annoyance or admiration
ooooh
vswoah
  • Informal
16 8.3

A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement

is shorter exclamation for quick surprise or disbelief
waah
vswoah
  • Informal
15 9.9

A short shout showing surprise or admiration

is used primarily for surprise or disbelief instead of admiration
wah
vswoah
  • Informal
14 9.9

A short cry showing surprise or excitement

is used mainly for surprise or disbelief rather than admiration
oh really
vswoah
13 7.4

Shows surprise or mild doubt about what someone just said

is a general exclamation not tied to immediate response
yow
vswoah
  • Informal
13 9.9

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

is used mainly for surprise or disbelief not sudden pain
holy cow
vswoah
  • Informal
8 7.6

A short phrase people say to show surprise or disbelief

is a general surprise exclamation rather than a specific phrase
ohhhh
vswoah
  • Informal
3 8.4

A short sound people make when they suddenly understand something

is mainly for surprise or disbelief without implying realization
holy crap
vswoah
  • Offensive
3 9.6

To say when you are very surprised or shocked

is less forceful and more neutral in tone
whee
vswoah
  • Informal
3 9.8

A short sound people make to show fake excitement about something boring

is used earnestly for surprise or disbelief not irony
wat
vswoah
  • Slang
1 9.9

A short informal spelling of what used online to show confusion

is the normal spoken exclamation rather than playful writing
haaa
vswoah
  • Informal
1 9.7

A short sound made when you finally understand something

is used for surprise or disbelief rather than only realization
hoho
vswoah
  • Informal
1 8.4

A short laugh that shows surprise or amusement

is used mainly for surprise or disbelief, not laughter
woa
vswoah
  • Informal
1 9.9

A short shout showing surprise or asking for attention

is used mainly to show surprise rather than to attract attention
aaahh
vswoah
  • Informal
1 9.5

A short sound you make when you suddenly understand something

is a general surprise exclamation rather than a realization cue
what the what
vswoah
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people say to show surprise or confusion

is a standard surprise exclamation rather than playful echoing
oh my heck
vswoah
  • Informal
9.9

A short phrase people say when they feel surprised or do not believe something

is used for general surprise more directly than mild speech
wth
vswoah
  • Slang
9.9

A short informal way people use to show surprise, confusion, or disbelief

is a full spoken exclamation rather than a written abbreviation
wut
vswoah
  • Slang
9.9

A funny informal way people write what online to show confusion

is a regular spoken exclamation, not internet slang
whillikers
vswoah
  • Archaic
9.9

A word people used long ago to show surprise

is the modern general exclamation for surprise or disbelief
zowie
vswoah
  • Archaic
9.9

A short shout people use to show surprise or excitement, often in a playful way

is the neutral modern exclamation for surprise or disbelief
yipe
vswoah
  • Informal
9.6

A short cry showing surprise, fear, or excitement

focuses on surprise or disbelief rather than fear or alarm
yowie
vswoah
  • Australian
9.9

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

is reserved for surprise or disbelief without pain or disgust

Surface Forms

woah main

Etymology

Woah is a modern spelling of the old shout whoa and it is also like the exclamation wow, so a helpful way to remember it is to think of a quick breath or sudden reaction that stops you for a moment. So, people use woah when they are 'surprised', in 'amazement', or do not 'believe' what they see.