French word

ô

Pronunciation

IPA/o/

Meaning

  • interjectionoh

Example

Ô, quelle surprise !

Oh, what a surprise!

Illustration for ô (oh)

More examples

Ô, je n'en reviens pas.

Oh, I can't believe it.

Core concept

A raised voice reaching outward to summon attention or heighten emotion.

Similar words

oh: A common brief exclamation expressing surprise or admiration.
ah: A brief exclamation expressing surprise or sudden realization.

Definition in French

Ô interjection ancienne ou stylistique servant à appeler, s'exclamer ou intensifier un sentiment dans un registre soutenu.

Word origin

The interjection descends from Latin ō through Old French o, with ô preserved as its traditional literary spelling.

Usage tips

  • In modern French, ô is mainly literary, ceremonial, or poetic, while everyday surprise usually uses oh or another interjection.

Word lists with this word