oy
oy Lexical Profile
oy Game Scores & Validity
• interjection
North American Used to express dismay, exasperation, pain, annoyance, or grief.
"Oy, I completely forgot that the tax return was due yesterday!"
British A variant of "oi", used informally to attract someone's attention, express surprise, or issue a challenge.
"Oy, watch where you're going with that shopping cart!"
• noun
Scottish A grandchild, or less commonly, a nephew.
"The elderly crofter was delighted to welcome his youngest oy to the family farm for the summer."
Word Nuance & Usage
In American English, "oy" is borrowed from Yiddish to express dismay or exasperation (often as "oy vey"), whereas in British and Australian English (more commonly spelled "oi"), it is used as an informal shout to grab someone's attention.
• Rhymes for oy
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 19th century from Yiddish oy, an exclamation of dismay derived from Middle High German oi; the Scottish noun meaning "grandchild" derives independently from Scottish Gaelic ogha.