aiyo

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil ஐயோ (aiyō), Hindi अइयो (aiyo), Sinhalese අයියෝ (ayiyō).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aɪˈjoʊ/

Interjection

aiyo

1. (India, informal) expressing distress, regret, fear
   • 1886, Chamber's Journal. 20 Mar. 184/1:

     'Are you crying for your father?' 'Aiyo, aiyo!' wailed the girl. 'I shall never see him again!'

   • 1913, L. Woolf, Village in Jungle ii. 28:

     Aiyo! aiyo! My little Podi Sinho!

   • 1971, Fashion Panaroma (Ceylon) Apr. 31:

     'Aiyo its our Kalu' they all cried.

   • 1982, R.K. Narayan, Tiger for Malgudi (1984) 119:

     Aiyo! Never thought our beloved principal will come to this end.

   • 2009, S. Manickavasagam, Power of Passion 218:

     Vijaya touched Rajam's forehead and exclaimed, Aiyo. She is running very high temperature.

Further reading

• Aiyo at the Oxford Dictionary

Anagrams

• Yaoi, yaoi