och

2 9.9

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

interjection

: ¡oh!

Och, my, we're late to catch our train.
Och, aye
Och, no

Examples

Och, you don't want to let them worry you.

The Wicker Man (1973)
"Och, aye," she said.

Fiction book (1991)
Och, well, he must be up the park playing.

You're Doing Great (2024)
Och, it's always murder on a Thursday.

You're Doing Great (2024)
Och now, what did his brother know of it?

Fiction book (2002)
Och, dear, you near stopped my heart, and it's near enough stopping as it is.

The Little Vampire (2000)
Och, maybe you could help me, Your Lordship.

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
"Och, sure, if God doesn't mind, won't we be after keeping her?"

Fiction book (1995)
"I felt a few twinges," muttered Hamish, "but, och, I thought I had a cold in the face."

Fiction book (1998)
Och, well, he must be up the park playing.

Synonyms

vsoch

∞ 1.0

Show a sudden feeling like surprise or understanding

is regional and used for milder pain or emotion rather than broad reactions

ooh

vsoch

Informal

∞ 7.2

A short sound people make to show surprise or pleasure

is more grounded in dialect and also signals mild pain or brief emotion

whoo

vsoch

Informal

707 9.2

A loud shout people make to show excitement or surprise

is sometimes used regionally to show mild feeling rather than loud celebration

hoo

vsoch

Informal

359 9.9

A shout people make to show excitement or surprise

is usually milder and regional, covering surprise or mild pain

oh my

vsoch

321 6.6

A short exclamation people use to show surprise or strong feeling

is typically shorter and regional, used for mild surprise or pain

ouch

vsoch

Informal

134 2.8

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

is also used for milder pain or surprise and is more regional

argh

vsoch

Informal

67 8.8

A short cry people say when they feel frustrated or annoyed

is softer regional exclamation used for mild surprise or small pain

OMG

vsoch

Slang

54 8.2

A short exclamation people say to show surprise, excitement or disbelief

is spoken regional exclamation used for mild pain or surprise rather than online shock

ooo

vsoch

Informal

36 9.4

A short sound people say to show surprise or admiration

is used regionally to express mild feeling or pain rather than excitement

ahh

vsoch

24 7.9

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

expresses milder pain and surprise rather than a sharp cry

oww

vsoch

Informal

22 9.3

A short cry you make when something suddenly hurts

is milder and can also show surprise or emotion in dialect

lordy

vsoch

Informal

17 9.4

A short informal cry showing surprise or strong feeling

is shorter dialectal speech often showing mild pain or surprise instead

ooooh

vsoch

Informal

16 8.3

A short sound people say to show surprise or excitement

is typically shorter and regional, used for mild surprise or pain

yow

vsoch

Informal

13 9.9

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

is often milder and tied to regional speech for surprise or mild pain

oooh

vsoch

Informal

7 9.1

A short sound people make when they feel a quick pain

is regional and often signals mild pain or emotion rather than sharp pain

aargh

vsoch

Informal

4 9.9

A short cry people make to show strong feelings like anger or pain

is milder and dialectal, focusing on surprise or mild pain rather than anger

oooo

vsoch

Informal

3 9.9

A short sound people make to show surprise or admiration

is shorter and dialectal, often used for mild pain or brief emotion

oho

vsoch

Archaic

2 9.9

A short cry showing surprise or sudden understanding

is more informal dialect speech used for mild shock or pain

oh my gosh

vsoch

Informal

2 7.0

To show surprise, shock or disbelief in a mild, polite way

is dialectal and often softer, also covering mild pain or simple emotion

hoho

vsoch

Informal

1 8.4

A short laugh that shows surprise or amusement

is more usually a brief dialectal exclamation for mild pain or surprise

begorra

vsoch

Archaic

1 9.9

An old Irish word said to show surprise or strong feeling

is modern regional speech used for mild surprise or emotional feeling

ope

vsoch

Slang

1 9.9

A short word people say when surprised, to say sorry, or to get attention

is dialectal and usually expresses mild pain or emotional reaction instead

ouf

vsoch

1 9.9

A short sound people make after stress to show relief or tiredness

is shorter regional exclamation that more often marks mild pain or surprise

bedad

vsoch

Archaic

9.9

A short old Irish phrase people say to show surprise or strong feeling

is similar but centered in Scottish or Irish informal use and milder

oh my heck

vsoch

Informal

9.9

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

is shorter regional speech that more often shows mild pain or feeling

oh my glob

vsoch

Slang

9.9

A friendly phrase people say to show surprise or excitement

is more compact and regional, used for mild pain or quick surprise

Oh my Allah

vsoch

Informal

9.5

A short phrase showing surprise or disbelief used by people who call on Allah

is a short regional exclamation used for mild surprise or pain instead

uh-oh, Spaghetti-O

vsoch

Baby Talk

9.9

A short phrase showing mild surprise or worry said in a playful way

is regional and more often used for mild pain or general emotion

orh hor

vsoch

Informal

9.9

A short word people say to show playful surprise or mild shock

is similar in surprise but tends to express mild pain or sincere feeling

swounds

vsoch

Archaic

9.9

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

is current regional speech for mild emotion or brief pain rather than archaic shock

How Strong

ouch

Informal

134 2.8

wow

Informal

∞ 1.0

och

2 9.9

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

och main

Etymology

Och is a Scottish and Irish way of saying 'oh' with a rough 'ch' sound, and it comes from old Gaelic cries like ochón that meant 'oh' or 'alas'. So, och is used today to show surprise, small pain, or strong feeling.