Japanese word

あら

Pronunciation

Romajiara

Meaning

  • interjectionoh!

Example

あら、きれいです。a ra ki re i de su

Oh, that's beautiful.

Illustration for あら (oh!)

More examples

あら、窓が開いたままです。a ra mado ga hira i ta ma ma de su

Oh, the window is still open.

Core concept

Expresses a sudden reaction to something noticed, learned, or unexpectedly felt.

Common phrases

  • あら大変a ra tai hen

    oh dear

Similar words

おやoya: An interjection that marks mild surprise at something newly noticed.
へえhē: An interjection that shows interest or mild surprise at newly learned information.
えっe: An interjection that shows strong surprise or difficulty believing what was heard.
あっa: An interjection that shows sudden recognition or surprise.

Definition in Japanese

思いがけないことに気づいたときや、驚き・感心・軽い困惑などを表す語。omo i ga ke na i ko to ni ki zu i ta to ki ya odoro ki kan shin karu i kon waku na do o arawa su go

Word origin

The origin of あら (ara) is not firmly established; it is treated as a native Japanese interjection whose form developed as an expressive reaction.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, あら (ara) can mark pleasant surprise, simple discovery, or mild concern, so its meaning depends strongly on the speaker's tone and the situation.

Other meanings

  • ah!interjection
  • oh nointerjection

Word lists with this word