oy

¹ American  

[oi] / ɔɪ /

Or oi

interjection

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

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oy ² American  

[oi] / ɔɪ /

Or oe

noun

Scot.

1. a grandchild.

2. Obsolete. a nephew or niece.

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Etymology

Origin of oy¹

Borrowed into English from Yiddish around 1890–95

Origin of oy²

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

Example Sentences

A bagel with big air holes is like a baked potato that is all skin – oy gevalt!

From Seattle Times • Jul. 26, 2019

Yet the work we’re shown that’s meant to illustrate their genius ends up looking — oy vey — as if it should hang on a motel wall.

From Washington Post • Oct. 11, 2017

“I could never say anything right except oy vey,” Strout said.

From The New Yorker • Apr. 24, 2017

As they used to say in Brooklyn, oy.

From The Guardian • Feb. 10, 2017

Ye, ye, ye, he said, and oy oy oy, and then fell asleep.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt