Woah vs Whoa

[GuanoLad]

Well, according to this Google Trends page, it looks like it is a regional variant. I’m in Australia and it’s running pretty even there.

The original word was “ho”. Its use as an exclamation of surprise seems to come from “Wow!”

[Peremensoe]

“Whoa” = stop, or wait.
“Woah” = wow.

@tumbleddown

Woah is just fundamentally wrong. That combination of letters cannot legitimately be pronounced as a homophone of “woe.” That combination of letters could only legitimately be pronounced as a rhyme with the name Noah, as in he of the ark.

They’re not homophones.

[MaddyStrut]

“Whoa” as an exclamation and “ho” for the horses.

Actually, that depends on the horse. With fatso the pony-o, you don’t have to do more than think of a word ending in “o” and she parks it. With the thoroughbred, it’s more of a “ho… HO… HO YOU FUCKER!”

[stretch]

@MaddyStrut

“Whoa” as an exclamation and “ho” for the horses.

Actually, that depends on the horse. With fatso the pony-o, you don’t have to do more than think of a word ending in “o” and she parks it. With the thoroughbred, it’s more of a “ho… HO… HO YOU FUCKER!”

Really? Where do you live that Ho is said to stop horses?

I’m a central Washington gal, born and raised, and we say Whoa there, Nelly, not Ho there, Nelly.

[Lord_Mondegreen]

@tallcoldone

My sister-in-law works to project a sophisticated image. She used the word “facade” several times in a conversion, but pronounced it ‘fah-KAYD’ instead of ‘fah-SAHD’.

Next time ask her why she is talking about a ‘fuck aid.’ A follow-up question would be whether she is referring to Viagra.

[jasg]

@Johnny_L.A

Isn’t a ‘bedroom sweet’ that little chocolate hotels put on the pillow?

Yes, and a ‘bedroom suit’ is the same as a ‘birthday suit’ but is often worn in hotel bedrooms…

[BigT]

@spark240

They’re not homophones.

I agree. They are both said differently. Once ends in a /w/, the other in either a glottal stop or nothing a tall. Thus, [wow] vs. [wo(ʔ)]

[kittenblue]

@tumbleddown

Woah is just fundamentally wrong. That combination of letters cannot legitimately be pronounced as a homophone of “woe.” That combination of letters could only legitimately be pronounced as a rhyme with the name Noah, as in he of the ark. Woah was someone’s pathetic misspelling which became viral. It must stop.

I agree.

And Whoa is pronounced woe. How are you pronouncing woah? Woe-uh?

[EvilTOJ]

Whoa = wow
Woah = stop horsie

and although I can spell and say Voila correctly, it always looks like it should be pronounced VOIL-ah to me.

[kittenblue]

Whoa, back it up a bit…I’ve never seen “woah” written out in any of the books involving horses I’ve ever read…it’s always “whoa, horsie”.

[saje]

@stretch

Really? Where do you live that Ho is said to stop horses?

I’m a central Washington gal, born and raised, and we say Whoa there, Nelly, not Ho there, Nelly.

My verbal “whoa” to my horse sounds more like “ho”, the beginning of the word is much breathier than if I say “whoa, really?!” to a person. (I’m a Yankee transplanted to the South).

And if the hooved beast is being a beast, he does indeed get a sharp HO! Stops him in his tracks, usually.

If I write the word though, I always spell it whoa. AFAI’m concerned woah doesn’t exist.

[BigT]

I forgot to actually answer the OP. Whoa is better. I see Woah, and assume it’s pronounced to rhyme with boa.

[Johnny_L.A]

CHRISTIAN: Behold the beast!

VYVYAN: Hello.

CHRISTIAN: Now is the worrying time.

NEIL: Yes it is rather.

CHRISTIAN: Woe!

NEIL: Whoa!

CHRISTIAN: Woe!

NEIL: Whoa!