# Is "ouch" a universal exclamation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 13, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114 "2001-08-13T23:12:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/1 "2001-08-13T23:12:48Z")
The subject asks the question. Do the Bush People of ChamBamBoobaLay say “ouch” when they stub their toes? Does everybody? Maybe just “ow”, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![edwino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@edwino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwino)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/2 "2001-08-13T23:14:07Z")
In Afrikaans, my mother says “ay-na.” I have no idea what the correct spelling is. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/3 "2001-08-13T23:14:21Z")
I think that some races say ‘aiee!’ ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/4 "2001-08-13T23:20:20Z")
Not sure that I can speak for my race, but usually swear. Not sure I’ve ever said “ouch”. ---
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/5 "2001-08-13T23:29:12Z")
I usually say “ouch” if I do something very minor, like a papercut. It’s more of a reflexive action, but it’s probably learned. Since I’ve realized I say ouch when I don’t need to, I’m trying to say it less. We’ve all got our issues. ---
**Author:** ![therealblaze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9adbd/32.png) [@therealblaze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/therealblaze)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/6 "2001-08-13T23:35:26Z")
Well we say “auts” (or “ai”) which is pretty close to “ouch”, little softer sound at the end that’s all. I’d probably say “Ai perkele!” but that’s another story. ---
**Author:** ![Oystaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@Oystaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oystaman)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2001, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/7 "2001-08-13T23:51:09Z")
I saw a documentary (sorry no cite) about linguistics once. They said that while the actual words are different, the wavelengths are very similar. For instance - In English the word is “No” In German the word is “Nein” In French the word is “Non” All different words but if you saw them on a screen that was showing wavelengths they would look very similar. So while there may be different words like “ouch” “aiyee” they still are kinda the same word. Exception : In Australia when we stub our toes we say “Bugger” _joke_ ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/8 "2001-08-14T00:10:01Z")
In Spanish, “¡Ah!”, “¡Oh!”, “¡Ay!”. This followed by Spanish swearing words, not suitable for this thread or forum. When I was smaller, I also said “¡MAMIIIIIII!”. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/9 "2001-08-14T00:17:15Z")
In Japan they say “itai!” If it really hurts, they draw it out by saying “it-t-tai-tai-tai…” and continue adding “tai”'s til they feel they’ve gotten their message across… Regarding one person’s observations about hte word “no” in various languages, the documentary he was watching might have been a little off, because all the languages cited are very closely related so it is no suprise that they have very similar words for a concept as common as “no.” It would be better to compare words from unrelated languages. For example, in Japanese, the word for no is “iie”. Not like “no” in wavelength by any means… In chinese, no is “bushi.” In swahili, “hapana.” So, you know… -Kris ---
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/10 "2001-08-14T00:18:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Oystaman \* > \*\*Exception : In Australia when we stub our toes we say “Bugger” > \*\* Saying “bugger” isn’t like saying ouch. “Bugger” is more like “dammit”. Ouch is a simple, one syllable sound that can easily be shot out the mouth, you know? Ouch is more of a cry than a word. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/11 "2001-08-14T00:31:05Z")
Not sure of the spelling because I never read it or had to write it, but in Vietnamese: Ooo-Ya! (Rhymes with “shoe-spa”) ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/12 "2001-08-14T00:31:17Z")
In the Western Caroline Islands of the Pacific it is “Yo-ah” for pain and “Yeb” for “no”. “Nah,” it is interesting to note means “yes”. Jeez, I used to get confused. ---
**Author:** ![Tir\_Tinuviel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@Tir\_Tinuviel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tir_Tinuviel)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/13 "2001-08-14T01:39:35Z")
Well, my Momma’s German, and she says “Au-Wah!” - but shes a bit odd anyway! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Milossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Milossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milossarian)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/14 "2001-08-14T01:50:06Z")
[From when I asked the same question before.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=30491) ---
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/15 "2001-08-14T01:54:23Z")
so I’m new here. Who knew. ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/16 "2001-08-14T03:59:19Z")
**Evno** : **Milossarian** was offering more answers to your question. He didn’t scold you for bringing up something that’s already been asked; heck, everyone does it at one point or another. There really wasn’t a reason for you to take offense at his comment. That being said, it’s a good idea to search before you start a thread. ---
**Author:** ![Falafel\_Waffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@Falafel\_Waffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falafel_Waffle)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/17 "2001-08-14T04:50:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FireUnderpantsBoobs \* > \*\*That being said, it’s a good idea to search before you start a thread. \*\* Ahhh baloney. 😛 everything has been asked. if us n00bs searched too hard, there wouldn’t be any new threads. I say, go ahead! ask away! no harm! might learn something new, might not. As for OP, I have taken up the habit of saying **Doh!** in lieu of ouch or dang or other expletives. too many hours of the Simpson’s, I guess… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Evno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c68b51/32.png) [@Evno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evno)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/18 "2001-08-14T05:05:06Z")
I wasn’t meaning to be rude, I just wanted to state that I hadn’t researched it here, since there really is _alot_ to trudge through. And I _am_ new here. ---
**Author:** ![frock75](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ad7895/32.png) [@frock75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frock75)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/19 "2001-08-14T05:37:15Z")
My dad is from Sicily and he says “Ay-Ay”. I tend to do that as well. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Stewart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Dave\_Stewart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Stewart)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2001, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114/20 "2001-08-14T07:34:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kris Rhodes \* > \*\*In Japan they say “itai!” > > If it really hurts, they draw it out by saying “it-t-tai-tai-tai…” and continue adding “tai”'s til they feel they’ve gotten their message across… > > Regarding one person’s observations about hte word “no” in various languages, the documentary he was watching might have been a little off, because all the languages cited are very closely related so it is no suprise that they have very similar words for a concept as common as “no.” It would be better to compare words from unrelated languages. For example, in Japanese, the word for no is “iie”. Not like “no” in wavelength by any means… > > In chinese, no is “bushi.” > > In swahili, “hapana.” > > So, you know… > > -Kris \*\* To add to this, the word for “hurt” is “itai”. So, a Japanese person in pain is yelling “Hurts! Hu-uuu-rts!” Much more meaningful than “ouch”. A correction, too: Mandarin Chinese, no is “bu” or “meiyo” depending upon the grammatical context. Cantonese, its “mo”. A Shanghainese colleague tells me “no” in Shanghainese is “vazi”, although she is a little unsure how to write that in Roman letters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-ouch-a-universal-exclamation/76114.md?page=2)