French Conversation · Level 29
89 words
French word
aïe
Pronunciation
IPA/aj/
Meaning
- interjectionouch
Example
Il a dit aïe quand il a marché sur un clou.
He said "ouch" when he stepped on a nail.
More examples
Elle a crié aïe en touchant la plaque chaude.
She cried "ow" when touching the hot plate.
Core concept
A tiny alarm signal from the body, released as a sharp cry when pain arrives.
Common phrases
crier aïe
cry "ow"
dire aïe
say "ow"
Similar words
ouille: A colloquial exclamation for sudden, severe, sharp pain.
oups: A short exclamation used to apologize or draw attention after a small mistake.
oh là là: An exclamation expressing surprise.
Definition in French
Exprime la douleur, souvent répétée ou allongée pour renforcer l'expression.
Word origin
The modern form aïe comes from Old French aie, an expressive pain cry preserved in present-day French.
Usage tips
- In informal writing, aïe aïe and aïe... can represent repetition or a drawn-out cry, while the basic spelling remains aïe.
Opposites
- oufphewinterjection