#initial-load-header-loader { visibility: hidden!important; } #initial-load-content { visibility: visible!important; } .expandable .expandable-control { display: none!important; } .expandable .expandable-content { display: block!important; visibility: visible!important; max-height: none!important; height: auto!important; }

oy

¹

or oi

[ oi ]

/ ɔɪ /

|

interjection

(used to express dismay, pain, annoyance, grief, etc.)

RELATED CONTENT

Yiddish Words That Will Make You A Maven Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.

Basic Spelling Rules Explained You can teach yourself to be a better speller. It is important to realize that learning to spell is a process that is never complete. Spelling is something that everyone has to pay attention to and keep working at it. BASIC SPELLING RULES Short-Vowel Rule: When one-syllable words have a vowel in the middle, the vowel usually has a short sound. Examples: cat, dog, man, …

Nearby words

Origin of oy

¹

Borrowed into English from Yiddish around 1890–95

Definition for oy (2 of 2)

oy

²

or oe

[ oi ]

/ ɔɪ /

noun Scot.

a grandchild.

Obsolete. a nephew or niece.

Origin of oy

²

1425–75; late Middle English (north and Scots) o(o), oy(e) < Scots Gaelic ogha; see O'

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oy

I urge my Republican friends … I look forward to working with leaders of both parties … Oy.
Advice for Obama: Forget Bulworth. Try Rambo.|Michael Tomasky|May 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Oy Vey: On Tuesday, Mr. Kanye Kardashian revealed a song for his girlfriend, Kim.
Kimye Rumored To Be In Talks for a Shoe Line; Anna Piaggi Inspired Louis Vuitton||August 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Oy sawed the firing gin coming, and oy said to stoarp, and the firing gin didn't stoarpt, and it said whoy—whoy—whoy!
When Ghost Meets Ghost|William Frend De Morgan
Cuando Pepe oy el zumbidillo de aquel insecto, su irritacin creci.
Doa Perfecta|Benito Prez Galds

Therefore seeing that uo, and os, are proportionall to oy, they are both equall.
The Way To Geometry|Peter Ramus
Now, by the 12 e. as ea is to ai: so is so to oy: and therefore, by the grant, so is uo to oy.
The Way To Geometry|Peter Ramus
In the British Museum copy of this number an old hand has supplied the omitted letters 'oy' and we have Mr. Hoyle.
The Works of Aphra Behn, Volume VI|Aphra Behn

Word Origin and History for oy

oy

Yiddish exclamation of dismay, 1892, American English. Extended form oy vey (1959) includes Yiddish vey, from German Weh "woe" (see woe).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper