French word

oh

Pronunciation

IPA/o/

Meaning

  • interjectionoh

Example

Elle a dit oh en voyant la photo.

She said "Oh" when she saw the photo.

Illustration for oh (oh)

More examples

Oh là là, j'ai oublié mes clés.

Oh dear, I forgot my keys.

Core concept

A brief voice cue that makes a listener notice surprise, attention, or a newly understood point.

Common phrases

  • oh là là

    oh dear

  • oh non

    oh no

Similar words

ah: A brief sound showing surprise.
tiens: A brief sound made on noticing something unexpected.
eh: A brief sound used to get someone's attention.
hein: A brief sound asking someone to repeat what was said.

Definition in French

S'utilise pour attirer l'attention, marquer l'étonnement ou signaler qu'on a compris quelque chose.

Word origin

The French interjection oh developed from the old exclamation o, ultimately related to Latin o, while its modern spelling gained h.

Usage tips

  • French oh is distinct from ô, the mainly literary form used before a person or personified thing, as in "Ô nuit."

Other meanings

  • ahinterjection
  • oohinterjection

Word lists with this word