# "Uh-oh" in other languages. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779 "2014-06-01T17:21:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/1 "2014-06-01T17:21:22Z")
At least in American English, “uh-oh” is a meaningful utterance: an interjection, according to Merriam Webster, “used when you realize that you are in a bad situation, that you have made a mistake, etc.; or used to indicate dismay or concern.” Those who speak other languages – is there an equivalent to “uh-oh,” used similarly? Or are there other similar inarticulate interjections? ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/2 "2014-06-01T17:28:25Z")
In Spanish we just repeat the “O” sound. It can be spelled in other ways, but I write it “Oh Oh…” ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/3 "2014-06-01T18:51:04Z")
Today’s young Norwegians are very influenced by English, so uh-oh might be creeping in, but I think the older generations would be more likely to use “oi” or “å _expletive_” ---
**Author:** ![jerez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c68b51/32.png) [@jerez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerez)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/4 "2014-06-01T19:13:28Z")
> [@Sr\_Siete](#): > > In Spanish we just repeat the “O” sound. It can be spelled in other ways, but I write it “Oh Oh…” More common, IMO, are: “¡Vaya!” “Jo-der” (distinctly separating the syllables) or its euphemism “Jo-pe” However, if economy of expression isn’t a concern and you prefer to leave no doubt as to what you’re feeling, nothing beats a heartfelt “¡Me cago en la leche!”🙂 ---
**Author:** ![araminty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@araminty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/araminty)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/5 "2014-06-01T19:43:17Z")
“Aduh” in Indonesian is kind of an all purpose interjection. Varying the tone and context can give clues, of course. It’s generally used to express surprise or alarm at something negative. “Wah” has similar usage, but tends to be used in more positive situations. More like Wow than Oh. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/6 "2014-06-01T19:45:51Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Today’s young Norwegians are very influenced by English, so uh-oh might be creeping in, but I think the older generations would be more likely to use “oi” or “å _expletive_” No more “uff dah”? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/7 "2014-06-01T20:01:41Z")
Talking cartoon Hanna-Barbera dogs: Ruh-roh. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/8 "2014-06-01T20:11:41Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > No more “uff dah”? 😉 Using “Uff da” that way is more of a Norwegian American thing, in my experience. My personal use is pretty much limited to using it as a response to tales of woe. “I fell off my chair yesterday and broke my coccyx!” “Uff, da!” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/9 "2014-06-01T20:53:46Z")
Not exactly “uh-oh” but the similar “annoyed grunt” from The Simpsons has gone [around the world.](http://simpsons.wikia.com/wiki/D'oh) > [@](#): > > In the German-dubbed version, “d’oh!” is translated to Nein! (‘No!’; it is pronounced like the number ‘nine’.) In the Spanish-dubbed version, “d’oh!” is changed to ¡Ou! (pronounced like the letter ‘O’). The pronunciation, along with the proper Homer-esque intonation, has entered the popular culture of many Spanish-speaking countries. However in Spain,it is pronounced as “Oi!”. The closed captions for the program—though this may only occur in the US—spell “D’oh” as “D-ohh!”. In Italy, the parts where Homer utters the word are left unedited, thus still bearing Castellaneta’s voice.[citation needed]. In the French-dubbed version, in France, due to a pronunciation mistake, “d’oh!” became “t’oh!”, but in Quebec, the Homer’s Annoyed Grunt is still “D’oh!”. In the Czech-dubbed version, “d’oh!” is usually changed to Ou! or Sakra! (‘Damn it!’). ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/10 "2014-06-01T21:15:12Z")
I have a friend online who lives in Germany. Says, “oh uh” every single time. Also confuses “mystery” with “miracle” frequently. Says “Yeah” instead of “Yay” which at first I took badly but then I realized that is how it is done/spelled there. But otherwise is a very good writer of English. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/11 "2014-06-01T21:24:04Z")
> [@naita](#): > > Using “Uff da” that way is more of a Norwegian American thing, in my experience. My personal use is pretty much limited to using it as a response to tales of woe. “I fell off my chair yesterday and broke my coccyx!” “Uff, da!” Sarcasm was denoted by the wink. ---
**Author:** ![Denial\_flash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Denial\_flash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Denial_flash)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/12 "2014-06-01T21:39:10Z")
ωχ is the greek equivalent, pronounced _och_ ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/13 "2014-06-01T21:49:50Z")
In French, they tend to go _oh là là_ in cases like this. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/14 "2014-06-01T22:36:39Z")
Yes and no. “Oh là là” (the second là is often trailed - oh la laaaaa) is indeed used as an expression of dismay in some situations, to mean things like “this is going to require _so_ much work” or “I’m in waaaay over my head, aren’t I ?”; other times it’s plain exasperation, or awe and amazement, or “this is going to hurt”, or sexual encouragement - it’s a \*very \*versatile expression :). That being said, I’m not sure it captures the exact same feeling of “I realize this very instant that I did something very stupid” or otherwise impending doom as “uh oh” does in English. Whereas “Oh, oh” does, and we say it too. In the same intonation as English, too : rising first Oh, lower/trailing second oh. Sometimes also “Oups”, which is, well, “Oops” written the French way; or “oh merde”. But not “Et merde”, which is what you say when you already knew something you were doing/watching could have negative consequences and those have just materialized. [QUOTE=jerez] However, if economy of expression isn’t a concern and you prefer to leave no doubt as to what you’re feeling, nothing beats a heartfelt “¡Me cago en la leche!”🙂 [/QUOTE] “I shit in the milk” ? What’s \*that \*about ?! 😕 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/15 "2014-06-02T00:18:58Z")
Thanks for the answers, all – very interesting! Keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![leahcim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b4bc9f/32.png) [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/16 "2014-06-02T02:04:07Z")
I’ve heard something like “Ay-yah” expressing something like that sentiment in Chinese, but have no personal experience of anything in that language. ---
**Author:** ![RadicalPi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/radicalpi/32/9806_2.png) [@RadicalPi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RadicalPi)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/17 "2014-06-02T02:14:48Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Yes and no. “Oh là là” (the second là is often trailed - oh la laaaaa) is indeed used as an expression of dismay in some situations, to mean things like “this is going to require _so_ much work” or “I’m in waaaay over my head, aren’t I ?”; other times it’s plain exasperation, or awe and amazement, or “this is going to hurt”, or sexual encouragement - it’s a \*very \*versatile expression :). I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/18 "2014-06-02T02:20:08Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > “I shit in the milk” ? What’s \*that \*about ?! 😕 Often used by Hemingway in _For Whom the Bell Tolls_. The full expression is _Me cago en la leche de tu puta madre_, “I shit in the milk of your whore mother” (and variants). Let us say that it is not really an equivalent of “uh-oh.”😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/19 "2014-06-02T02:22:32Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Often used by Hemingway in _For Whom the Bell Tolls_. The full expression is _Me cago en la leche de tu puta madre_, “I shit in the milk of your whore mother” (and variants). Let us say that it is not really an equivalent of “uh-oh.”😉 Ah, I see. Colourful :). ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779/20 "2014-06-02T03:12:53Z")
There are interjections in Thai that sound like ‘uh-oh’ โอ๊ะโอ๋ (Google translates this as ‘oops’) or ‘oh ho’ โอ้โห๋ โอ้โห๋ว โอ้โฮ Thais have adopted many English words, including perhaps these. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uh-oh-in-other-languages/689779.md?page=2)