Interjections

Aah, aahs, aahed, aahing

wonder, enlightenment

Aargh, aarrgh, aarrghh

dismay

Ach

dismay 

Achoo

a sneeze 

Addio, addios 

goodbye 

Adieu, adieus, adieux 

farewell 

Adios

goodbye 

Ah, ahs, ahing, ahed 

surprise, joy 

Aha

sudden comprehension 

Ahchoo

a sneeze 

Ahem, hmm

delicate interruption 

Ahoy

hailing another vessel 

Aikona

(Bantu) it is not; no 

Alack, alackaday

grief 

Alannah, alannahs 

my child!; also a term of address 

Alas

grief 

Alew, alews 

urging on hounds, same as HALLOO 

All Hail

acclamation, a welcome, or a greeting

Alleluia, alleluias, alleluiah, alleluiahs  

praise to God 

Allons

(French) let's go 

Aloha, alohas 

(Hawaiian) greeting or farewell 

Amen, amens, amens, amened, amening 

so be it 

Anan, anon

in a moment! coming! 

Apage

away, depart, as in 'apage Satanas' 

Arrah

(Irish) wonder etc 

Arriba

(Spanish) pleasure or approval 

Arrivederci

(Italian) till we meet again 

Atishoo, atishoos 

a sneeze 

Attaboy

encouragement 

Attagirl

expressing encouragement to a female 

Avanti

forward 

Avast

hold fast! 

Aw

disappointment, sympathy etc 

Aweel

well, well then 

Ay, ays, aye, ayes  

yes 

Baccare, backare

back! Stand back!  

Bah

contempt 

Banzai, banzais 

(Japanese) warlike shout 

Barley, barleys 

(Scots) a call for truce 

Basta

enough; stop! 

Bedad, begad

(Irish) by God 

Beggar, begars 

(Shakesp.) by God 

Begorah, begorra, begorrah

(Irish) by God  

Bejabers, bejabbers,bejeebers

(Irish) by Jesus  

Bejeezus 

(Irish) by Jesus  

Bejesus

(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 

full house at the game of bingo 

Bismillah

in the name of Allah 

Bitte

(German) pardon? 

Blast, blasts, blasts, blasted, blasting 

annoyance 

Bleep

a short high tone produced as a signal or warning

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 

Brava, bravas 

well done (to a woman) 

Bravi

well done (to a number of people) 

Bravissimo

(Italian) very well done! 

Bravo, bravos, bravoes, bravoed, bravoing  

well done (to a man) 

Brr, 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 

Bye

farewell remark

Byrlady

a mild oath: by our Lady 

Byrlakin

a mild oath: by our Lady 

Caese

enough said  

Caramba

(Spanish) annoyance, surprise etc 

Ceas

enough said 

Change

(Hinglish) expressing approval or agreement 

Cheers

Friendly remark said before starting to drink (mostly alcoholic beverage), exclamation expressing gratitude

Cheerio, cheerios 

farewell 

Cheero, cheeros 

farewell 

Chimo

(Inuit) greeting 

Choof, choofs, choofs, choofed, choofing  

(Aust. sl.) vamoose, go away 

Chut

(French) impatience 

Ciao, ciaos 

(Italian) goodbye 

Congrats

congratulations 

Cooee, cooees, cooees, cooeed, cooeeing 

calling at a distance 

Cooey, cooeys, cooeys, cooeyed, cooeying  

calling at a distance 

Coraggio, coraggios 

courage

Cracky

a mild oath  

Crickey, cricky, crikey

a mild oath  

Crimine, crimini, criminy, criminis 

surprise or impatience 

Cripe, cripes

a mild oath 

Crivens, 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 

Dear

affectionately

Deek

look at, see [Romany dik, to look, see] 

Deffo

definitely 

Deuce, deuces, deuces, deucing, deuced 

annoyance; (verb) to bring a game of tennis to a tie 

Duh, Doh

an ironic response to a question, Exclamation on doing something foolish

Dumela

hello, good morning in South African language

Ecce

behold, here is 

Ecco

behold, here is 

Ecod

a mild oath 

Eek

fright 

Egad, egads

a mild oath 

Eh, ehs,ehing,ehed 

inquiry 

Eina

(Afrikaans) expressing sudden pain 

Eish

surprise, dismay in South African language

Encore

An extra or repeated performance; usually given in response to audience demand

Entrez

come in French language

Er, ers (a plant) 

hesitation 

Euge

well done (Greek)

Euoi

Bacchic frenzy 

Eureka, eurekas 

discovery 

Evhoe, evoe, 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! 

Faugh

contempt, disgust 

Fegs

a mild oath 

Fiddlestick, fiddlesticks, fiddledee

nonsense

Fie

reproach; (adj.) fey: FIER, FIEST 

Floreat,floreant

may it flourish, may they flourish 

Foh, fohs 

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, gadsos

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, gee whiz 

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, giddyap, giddyup

gee up 

Gimme, gimmes 

give me!; (noun) a conceded golf putt 

Godden, goddens 

a dialect variant of good evening 

Godso, godsos 

surprise 

Godspeed, godspeeds 

goodwill at parting 

Goldarn, goldarns 

anger 

Goldurn, goldurns 

anger 

Golly, gollies, gollies, gollying, gollied  

surprise or admiration; (noun) a golliwog; (verb) to spit 

Goodbye, goodbyes 

Goodness, goodnesses 

surprise 

Goodnight, goodnights, goodnights 

 expression of farewell at night

Goody, goodies 

childish pleasure 

Gor

god 

Gorblimey, Gorblimy

surprise 

Gosh

euphemism for God 

Gracious

surprise 

Gramercy, gramercies 

gratitude or surprise 

Gup, gups 

remonstrance; (noun) gossip 

Ha

surprise 

Hadaway

urging someone on 

Haeremai

(Maori) welcome 

Ha-Ha, haw-haw

a loud laugh

Hah, hahs 

surprise etc 

Hail

enthusiastic greeting

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, haws, hawed, hawing 

go away in South African language

Haw, haws 

hesitation 

Hech

surprise 

Heck, hecks 

consternation; (noun) a grating 

Heehaws, heehawing, heehawed

expressing the sound of a donkey 

Heigh

a cry of enquiry, encouragement 

Heigh-Ho

exclamation of surprise, joy, dejection, uneasiness, weariness, etc.

Hello, hellos, helloes, helloed, helloing  

greeting 

Heureka, heurekas

discovery 

Hewgh

the whistling of an arrow 

Hey, heys, heys, heyed, heying

calling attention 

Hey Presto

announce the surprising achievement of something, as if by magic

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, Hmm

hesitation 

Ho, hos 

calling attention, expressing surprise 

Ho Hum

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

Hoa, hoas, hoaed, hoaing 

expressing surprise 

Hoh, hohs, hohed, hohing 

calling attention, expressing surprise  

Hoi

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  

greeting, touching nose to nose in Maori language

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 

Hosanna, hosannahs

praise or adoration 

Hot Dog

perform intricate manoeuvres while skiing, someone who performs dangerous stunts to attract attention to himself

Howdie, howdies, howdied, howdy, 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 

Hush

become quiet or still; fall silent

Huzza, huzzas, huzzaed, huzzaing 

cheering 

Huzzah, huzzahs, huzzahed, huzzahing 

cheering 

Ichabod

'the glory is departed' 

Ick

disgust 

Igad

a mild oath 

Imshi, imshy

(army slang) go away 

Inshallah

if Allah wills, in Arabic language

Io, ios 

joy, triumph, grief 

Isit

indicating attention in South African language

Ja

yes 

Jai

victory (to) in Hindi language

Jambo, jambos 

an East African salutation 

Jeepers, Jeepers Creepers

surprise 

Jeez

consternation 

Jiminy, jiminy

surprise 

Jinne

expressing surprise, shock in Afrikaans language

Jirre

expressing surprise, shock in Afrikaans language

Jordeloo, jordeloos 

a warning cry given when throwing slops from the window into the street; (noun) the slops so thrown  

Kasme

i swear in Hinglish (mixture of Hindi and English)

Kerchoo

a sneeze 

Lackaday

regret or deprecation 

Lawk, lawks

surprise 

Lo

see, look 

Lo and Behold

used to draw attention to something

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 

opposition, protest; verb/noun forms from other meaning 

Mazeltov

congratulations in Yiddish in German language

Merde, merdes 

shit in French language

Mm

agreement 

My Word

warrant, assurance, or promise

Moryah

expressing annoyance, disbelief in Irish language

Murdabad

death to in Urdu language

Musha

surprise in Irish language

Nah

no 

Namaskar, namaskars 

greeting, accompanied by a slight bow with the palms pressed together before the chest or face (India)

Namaste, namastes 

greeting, accompanied by a slight bow with the palms pressed together before the chest or face (India)

Naw

no 

Nerts, nertz

disgust 

No, nos, noes 

negation 

Nooit

(Afrikaans) expressing pleased surprise or shock 

Nope

no 

Och

dismay 

Ochone

cry of sorrow and grief in Irish language

Odso

surprise 

Odsos

surprise 

Odzooks

a mild oath 

Oh, ohs, ohed, ohing 

surprise etc 

Oho, ohos 

knowingness 

Ohone

(Irish) lamentation 

Oi

drawing attention 

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, pardie, pardy

assuredly, by God 

Peccavi, peccavis 

admitting sin or guilt 

Perdie, perdy

assuredly, by God 

Perfay

by my faith! 

Pip-Pip

mock-pompous english greeting which conveys jocular familiarity on the recipient.

Pfft

sudden ending 

Pfui

scorn, contempt 

Phew

relief, astonishment etc 

Pho, phos 

disgust 

Phooey

scorn, contempt 

Phoh, phohs 

disgust 

Phpht, Pht

mild irritation or annoyance 

Pish, pishes, pished, pishing 

contempt 

Plaudit

an appeal for applause at the conclusion of a play or other performance 

Poh 

contempt 

Poof, poofs 

contempt, dismissal; (noun) a male homosexual 

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, 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 

my great master in Hebrew language

Rah, rahs, rahed, rahing 

approbation 

Rats

disappointment

Righto, rightos 

cheerful consent 

Rivo, rivos 

a drinking-cry 

Salaam, salaams, salaams, salaamed, salaaming 

salutation; (verb) to perform a low bow with palm on forehead 

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 

Scat

run, mostly used to drive away a cat

Sese

enough said 

Sesey 

enough said 

Sessa

enough said 

Sh

requesting silence 

Sha

requesting silence 

Shabash

bravo, well done in Hindi language

Shalom, shaloms 

(Jewish) peace, used as a salutation at meeting or parting: peace 

Shh

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 

Shoot

expressing anger, disbelief

Shucks

deprecation 

Sies

expressing disgust in South African language

Sirree, sirrees 

used for emphasis with yes or no 

Sithee

look here 

Sjoe

expressing surprise, admiration in South African language

Skoal, skoals, skoaled, skoaling 

a drinking toast; (verb) to propose such a toast 

Skol

a drinking toast 

Slainte

good health! 

So

introduce a new topic, question or story

So Long

a farewell remark

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

hold on in Maori language

Touché

to acknowledge the success or appropriateness of an argument, an accusation, or a witty point

Tallyho, tallyhos, tallyhos, 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  

There

show direction

Toho, tohos 

a hunter’s call to pointers or setters to stop 

Toots, tootses, tootsed, tootsing 

disapproval in Scots Dialect

Troggs

by my troth 

Tsk, tsks, tsked, tsking

disapproval 

Tsktsk, tsktsks, tsktsked, tsktsking 

disapproval 

Tush, tushes, tushed, tushing 

disapproval 

Tut, Tut-Tut, tuts, tutted, tutting 

rebuke, mild disapprobation 

Tuts, tuts, tutsed, tutsing 

rebuke, mild disapprobation in Scottish language

Uds

a mild oath: God's or God save 

Ugh, ughs 

repugnance 

Uh

surprise 

Uh-Huh

affirmative response like yes, yeah

Uh-Oh

an exclamation of error, awareness of a problem

Uh-Uh

indicates a negative response

Um, umm

doubt or hesitation 

Umph

doubt or dissatisfaction 

Unberufen

an exclamation to avert ill luck following boasting in German

Upadaisy,upsadaisy

said to a child who has fallen over 

Upsey, upseys 

a bacchanalian cry; (noun) a carousal 

Ur

hesitation 

Vale, vales 

farewell, to one person in Latin

Valete, valetes 

farewell, to more than one person in Latin

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

there it is, in French language

Voertsak,voertsek, voetsak, voetsek

an offensive expression of rejection in South African language

Vroom, vrooms, vroomed, vrooming 

the sound of an engine revving or of a car travelling at high speed 

Waly, walies 

alas! Pl. is from noun WALY, finery. 

Waesuck

pity, alas! 

Waesucks

pity, alas! 

Jinne

expressing surprise, shock, in Afrikaans langauge

Wahoo

express exuberance, enthusiasm or to attract attention.

Wassup

what's up 

Wayleggo

(NZ) a shepherd's call to his dog 

Well

used to express surprise, reproof, etc. or resume a conversation

Welladay,welladays

alas 

Wellanear

alas 

Wellaway, wellaways

alas 

Whamo, whammo, whammos 

violent impact 

Whang, whangs, whangs, whanged, whanging

imitative of a resounding impact 

What

Inability to understand, a request to repeat for clarification

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 

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

being impressed 

Wilco

cooperation 

Wirra

sorrow 

Wisha

surprise [Irish mhuis] 

Watcher

greeting 

Wow, wows, wowed, wowing 

being impressed; (verb) to impress e.g. an audience 

Wowee

being impressed 

Yahoo

shout in excitement

Yah, yahs 

derision 

Yay, yays 

enthusiastic affirmation 

Yeah

affirmation 

Yebo

yes, I agree, in South African language

Yecch, yecchs 

disgust 

Yech, yechs 

disgust 

Yeh

affirmation 

Yep, yeps 

affirmation 

Yes, yeses, yesses, yessed, yessing 

affirmation 

Yike, yikes

alarm or surprise

Yipe, yipes

fear or surprise 

Yippee

delight 

Yo, yos 

calling for effort or attention 

Yoick, yoicks, yoicked, yoickses, yoicking, yoicksed yoicksing

a hunting cry to urge the hounds after the fox 

Yoop, yoops 

representing a sobbing sound 

Yoo-Hoo

Used to call someone at a distance or to gain someone's attention

Yuch,Yucch

disgust 

Yuk, yuks, yukked, yukking 

disgust; (verb) to laugh loudly 

Yum

expressing relish 

Yummy, yummies 

expressing relish; (adj.) delicious: YUMMIER, YUMMIEST 

Yup, yups 

affirmation 

Zap

used to signify sudden, swift action or change

Zindabad

long live in Hindi language

Zooks

a mild oath (God’s hooks) 

Zounds

a mild oath (God’s wounds) 

Zowie

surprise 

Zzz

expressing sleep