# The exclamation "ow" - is it English-only? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 4, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786 "2013-04-04T00:24:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/1 "2013-04-04T00:24:25Z")
Is “ow” a learned expression, and if it is, is it exclusively English? I ask because The last time I used it sincerely was last week when I had an instantaneous and extremely severe headache occur at the top of my head while I was crying very hard… One second I was having my emotional sob, and the next second I was holding my head and yelping "ow ow ow !!! It did not feel like I was saying something with words, it felt very organic, in the same way it feels organic and wordless to scream or to cry. So I was thinking and wondering if it comes from a more universal sound that human beings, human babies, make when they are hurt. If so, we would expect people who speak other languages would say it as well, Orsay something very similar. Googling was not helpful. Whenever googling is not helpful, I ask the Dope. Dope? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/2 "2013-04-04T00:33:35Z")
Nope, the _expression of pain for different languages_ appears to be a learned thing. I googled the italicized in the former sentence, and [got this page,](http://cspeech.ucd.ie/~fred/research/ouch.html) which lists responses to the same question, giving pronunciations and a brief explanation on a few dozen languages. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/3 "2013-04-04T00:48:22Z")
I once worked an auto accident (as an EMT) where the driver was from Montreal, a native French speaker. He had a femur fracture, and, during the extrication and immobilization there was a certain amount of movement, and, hence, pain. His repeated expression, and I kid you not, was, \*“Ooh, la,la,la,la!” \* Emphasis on the first syllable, and the remaining four spoken very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/4 "2013-04-04T00:49:46Z")
“Aiya!” is what I heard in China. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/5 "2013-04-04T01:02:20Z")
Thanks, cmyk - it does appear common for the expression to be very “vowelly” - once you start introducing consonants, it gets more specific to each language… ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/6 "2013-04-04T01:14:09Z")
I’m sure there is a more innate human pain sound though, and I’m guessing it sounds very similar to when Peter Griffin bangs his knee: [“Awwhhhhhhhh!.. [sucking in air through clenched teeth]”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buHv1EvUHj0) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/7 "2013-04-04T10:22:31Z")
In French class at school I’m sure I remember the expression “Aïe!” to mean “Ouch!” appearing in my textbooks. Edit: [Wikitionary](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a%C3%AFe) also has it, and suggests “ouille” (pronounced “weee”?!) and “ayoye” as alternatives; the latter being Québécois. “Ayoye” sounds more Spanish to me, though… ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/8 "2013-04-04T10:51:59Z")
In German, it’s “Au!”, so very close. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/9 "2013-04-04T12:15:36Z")
> [@cmyk](#): > > I’m sure there is a more innate human pain sound though, and I’m guessing it sounds very similar to when Peter Griffin bangs his knee: > > [“Awwhhhhhhhh!.. [sucking in air through clenched teeth]”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buHv1EvUHj0) I’d be interested in what people who deal with people in _real_ pain can report. My personal impression, from minor-ish mishaps of mine and other people, ist that the _innate_ expression of pain is more in the nature of an inarticulate grunt (for sudden pain) or an inarticulate moan or whimper - while ow, ouch, aïe, au, autsch are more in the nature of a learned social utterance, i.e. the latter can truly be different in different languages/cultures. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/10 "2013-04-04T13:56:31Z")
“D’oh!” ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/11 "2013-04-04T14:24:35Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Edit: [Wikitionary](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/a%C3%AFe) also has it, and suggests “ouille” (pronounced “weee”?!) and “ayoye” as alternatives; the latter being Québécois. > > “Ayoye” sounds more Spanish to me, though… Those are both legit for Quebec. It’s hard for me to describe the pronunciation of “ouille.” Maybe see if you can find video of a french person saying “citrouille” (pumpkin) - the “ouille” part is pronounced the same way, more or less. Ayoye has a little more of an accusatory tone to it, like you’d say it to a table you’ve just kicked. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/12 "2013-04-04T14:50:30Z")
Related linguistic phenomenon: I have a colleague who literally does an “a-choo!” when sneezing. Previously, I had a Pakistani colleague whose sneeze was expressed as “heh-shu”. You’d think sneezing would be instinctive, but I’ve never heard an American go “heh-shu”. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/13 "2013-04-04T15:39:59Z")
in north-east England a common exclamation would be “Aiya ya bugger” ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/14 "2013-04-04T15:46:57Z")
This is a good test of a person’s first language. My roommate in college learned both Spanish and English as an infant/toddler, but it was hard to tell which one was his first language (barely), until he hit his thumb with a hammer and said something like “allí!”. BTW, someone mentioned “d’oh” – in the Spanish-language dubbed version of the Simpsons, they translate this as “ouch!” It’s one of the very few totally English words which pops out of a Spanish Simpsons broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/15 "2013-04-04T19:27:07Z")
In Japan it’s “itai!” ---
**Author:** ![YourAdHere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/65b543/32.png) [@YourAdHere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YourAdHere)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/16 "2013-04-04T20:31:23Z")
In Latin it’s "eheu! " , which is somewhat close. ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/17 "2013-04-04T21:12:06Z")
I have noticed regional differences in the US. I grew up in the Mid Atlantic area and it was exclusively OW! In the Pacific NW I frequently hear OWEE! ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/18 "2013-04-05T09:54:57Z")
> [@Antigen](#): > > Those are both legit for Quebec. It’s hard for me to describe the pronunciation of “ouille.” Maybe see if you can find video of a french person saying “citrouille” (pumpkin) - the “ouille” part is pronounced the same way, more or less. I assumed it would be as in “grenouille”. Is that it? Not “wee”, exactly, but nor is it a very ouchy sounding word! ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/19 "2013-04-05T10:30:33Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > I assumed it would be as in “grenouille”. Is that it? Not “wee”, exactly, but nor is it a very ouchy sounding word! There’s more “ooh” to it than that. Try this [pronunciation](http://www.forvo.com/search/nouille/). Just take off the N. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2013, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786/20 "2013-04-05T12:42:47Z")
This subject came up on the Dope many years ago, and a Doper related an interesting story. I’ll try to relay as much as I can remember (please forgive me for not having many details). During WWII, a British spy is doing his spying thing behind enemy lines, impersonating a German. Now, keep in mind that his training for his mission was _intense_; he’d been so thoroughly trained in German language, dress, history, culture, customs, etc., that he was indistinguishable from any ordinary German. Suspicions are raised, and he winds up in a German officer’s… uh, office, for questioning. The questioning goes on at length, and the spy is keeping up his guise expertly. That is, until the officer drops something on the man’s foot, and he exclaims “Ouch!” instead of “Aii!” His cover is blown and off he goes to… somewhere unpleasant. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-exclamation-ow-is-it-english-only/654786.md?page=2)