# Voila is the correct spelling **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 29, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063 "2002-09-29T03:07:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/1 "2002-09-29T03:07:35Z")
I keep seeing the word _voila_ butchered on threads. The correct spelling is VOILA! **Not** viola. Not violla, etc. Thank you for your attention. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/2 "2002-09-29T03:15:20Z")
Thanks, Voilet. ---
**Author:** ![Jadis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@Jadis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jadis)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/3 "2002-09-29T03:15:51Z")
I’ve seen people on other boards spell it wahla…cringe city. Bleah. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/4 "2002-09-29T03:16:14Z")
Or you could maybe spell it the way I once saw it on a crafts message board: Wah-lah! (I spell _voila_ but I say “viola” just because I think it’s funnier that way.) ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/5 "2002-09-29T03:17:02Z")
If I’m not mistaken (and I’m pretty certain I’m not), it’s actually _voila_ with an accent aigu over the “a.” That’s the one that goes this way: / ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/6 "2002-09-29T03:25:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by tomndebb \* > \*\*Thanks, Voilet. \*\* Hahaha! ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/7 "2002-09-29T04:04:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jackelope \* > \*\*If I’m not mistaken (and I’m pretty certain I’m not), it’s actually _voila_ with an accent aigu over the “a.” That’s the one that goes this way: / \*\* Well, **jackelope** , I hope you’re man enough to admit when you’re wrong, because you certainly are in this case. It’s not an _accent aigu_ over the “a,” it’s an _accent grave_. (the one that goes this way: ) Take it from me, the sibling of people who went to French Immersion for a fair number of years. (besides, I remember [some of] my French classes fairly well, sort of) If you won’t take it from me, take it from here. **Violet** , I agree with you 100%. Seeing the word “voila” used in place of “voilà” just makes me think of the musical instrument. (or calling my brother to come play something on his viola for me) At least they don’t spell it “wallah,” like someone I used to talk to on ICQ did. That just made me cringe. F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/8 "2002-09-29T04:05:34Z")
I usually say/type _victrola_, as in: “…and now we will check zee soufflé. And _victrola!_, she ees done!” I think it helps eliminate confusion. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/9 "2002-09-29T06:29:22Z")
This used to be my #1 pet peeve, but it’s been supplanted by people who say/write “jive” when they mean “jibe.” I understand the foul “bonified” (in _lieu_ of _bona fide_\*) is starting to be a really common occurance as well. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/10 "2002-09-29T06:31:03Z")
Whoops! I took out my \* segment without taking out the \* …sorry!!! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/11 "2002-09-29T13:24:10Z")
Already did it. [Voilà!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=97871&highlight=voil%E0) ---
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/12 "2002-09-29T14:28:56Z")
Like Deux! ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/13 "2002-09-29T16:13:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Well, **jackelope** , I hope you’re man enough to admit when you’re wrong, because you certainly are in this case. Oh, and what a _grave_ error it was, too. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/14 "2002-09-29T17:49:59Z")
I like to pretend people are trying to be funny when they type “Wha-lah!” etc. It keeps my aggravation level down a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Violet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ebca7d/32.png) [@Violet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Violet)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/15 "2002-09-29T19:12:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by matt\_mcl \* > \*\*Already did it. > > [Voilà!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=97871&highlight=voil%E0) \*\* OK. We are the self-appointed Voilà Police. With or without the accent is OK with me. Voilà! ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/16 "2002-09-29T19:31:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Whoops! I took out my \* segment without taking out the \* …sorry!!! No one has ever said that to me before, **voguevixen**. ---
**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2002, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/17 "2002-09-29T20:45:09Z")
“BONIFIED”? _Please_ tell me you’re kidding. The stupidity… aargh. ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/18 "2002-09-30T06:45:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flamsterette\_X \* > **Well, jackelope, I hope you’re man enough to admit when you’re wrong, because you certainly are in this case.** D’Oh! My ninth-grade French teacher’s ears are no doubt burning right now. I console myself with the thought that I at least knew there was an accent in there somewhere. And that my French pronunciation is so atrocious (to say nothing of my English) that a miscued accent is the least of my communication problems. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/voila-is-the-correct-spelling/130063/19 "2002-09-30T07:16:25Z")
I have chosen not to get up in arms over misspellings of voilà in order to conserve my energies to fight the atrocious and disgusting “woah.” :shiver: