German word

Wehe

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈveːə/

Meaning

  • neuter nounlament

Example

Sein lautes Wehe zeigte, wie sehr er litt.

His loud lament showed how much he was suffering.

Illustration for Wehe (lament)

More examples

Die Nacht war von einem lauten Wehe erfüllt.

The night was filled with a loud lament.

Core concept

A cry of pain that can also sound like a warning of trouble.

Common phrases

  • ein lautes Wehe

    a loud lament

  • ein klagendes Wehe

    a plaintive lament

  • mit Wehe erfüllt

    filled with lament

Similar words

Leid: Ongoing hardship or suffering affecting the mind or daily life.
Kummer: Heavy distress caused by worry or sadness.
Trauer: Deep sorrow following loss or separation.
Schmerz: Strong physical or emotional pain and suffering.

Definition in German

Ein Ausruf oder Nomen für klagenden Schmerz oder warnende Klage, meist literarisch oder veraltet gebraucht.

Word origin

German Wehe continues an old Germanic interjection of pain, related to English woe, and later also functions as a noun.

Usage tips

  • Wehe is chiefly literary or old-fashioned today; the pattern Wehe dem ... introduces a warning or threat.

Opposites

Related words

  • Wehklagelamentationnoun
  • wehklagendlamentingadjective

Word lists with this word