whew

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hwjuː/, /fjuː/, /ʍĭ̥ŭ̥/ [very short and unvoiced]

• Audio (GA):

  (file)

Etymology 1

Interjection

whew

1. An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.

   (from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!

   (from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness youʼre safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!

   (from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didnʼt see me! That was a close call!

2. An expression of amazement or surprise.
   • 1981, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins, revised edition, chapter 1,

     "...Now I must be off. Whew, it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?"

Synonyms

• (expressing relief of tension): phew
• (expressing surprise): wow

Related terms

• whoa
• wow

Translations

an expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension

• Estonian: ohh
• French: ouf (fr)
• German: puh (de), uff (de)
• Hiligaynon: abá
• Hungarian: pfű, hú, fú (hu), huh
• Ido: hu (io)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Kazakh: уһ (uh)
• Malay: huh, uhh
• Navajo: hwáah
• Polish: uf (pl), uff (pl)
• Russian: фуф m (fuf), фух (ru) (fux)

an expression of amazement or surprise

• German: puh (de)
• Hiligaynon: abá
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Hungarian: tyű, tyűha, hűha, hű (hu)
• Malay: huh, uhh
• Taos: húwi, yúwi

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• Dutch: ^{(please verify)} oef (nl)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: ^{(please verify)} ouf (fr)

Verb

whew (third-person singular simple present whews, present participle whewing, simple past and past participle whewed)

1. (UK, Scotland, dialect) To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.

Etymology 2

Verb

whew (third-person singular simple present whews, present participle whewing, simple past and past participle whewed)

1. (intransitive, UK, dialect) To bustle about.