ouch
English
Etymology 1
Uncertain. Some sources say the interjection is attested since 1838[1] (and specifically in American English) and derives ultimately from German autsch,[2][3] perhaps specifically via Pennsylvania German outch (“cry of pain”), as early attestations of the interjection are from Pennsylvania.[3] However, others say the interjection is a "mere"[4] or "natural" exclamation attested since the mid 1600s,[5] and the 1933 OED[3] cites one instance of a verb "ouch" in 1654, "Sancho Pancas Runs Ouching round the mountaine like a ranck-Asse".[6]
Pronunciation
Interjection
ouch
- An expression of one's own physical pain.
- Ouch! You stepped on my toe! That hurt!
- An expression in sympathy at another's pain.
- Ouch! Her sunburn looks awful.
- A reply to an insult (frequently one that is tongue-in-cheek or joking).
- Ouch. How could you say that?
- An expression of disappointment.
- Ouch, I really wanted to do that.
- (slang) Expressing surprise at the high price of something.
- Ouch, one hundred thousand dollars for a car! I could never afford that!
Synonyms
Translations
expression of one's own physical pain
|
expression in sympathy at another’s pain
reply to an insult
Etymology 2
Variant forms.
Noun
ouch (plural ouches)
- Alternative form of ouche
References
- ^ “ouch”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
- ^ “ouch”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933. ("ouch")
- ^ “ouch”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
- ^ “ouch”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- ^ 1654, Gayton, Pleas. Notes IV. ii. 176, "But harke Sancho Pancas Runs Ouching round the mountaine like a ranck-Asse, Braying for's Company.
Anagrams
French
Pronunciation
Interjection
ouch
- interjection expressing a sharp pain: ouch!
Synonyms
Categories:
- English terms derived from German
- English terms derived from Pennsylvania German
- English 1-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/aʊtʃ
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English interjections
- English slang
- Terms with Uokha translations
- Ahirani terms in nonstandard scripts
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English onomatopoeias
- French 1-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French lemmas
- French interjections