oy vey

[oi vey]

interjection

Yiddish.

1. (used to express distress, exasperation, upset, alarm, etc., sometimes minor).

   Just had another session with my mom, planning my wedding—oy vey, she’s taking over!

Word History and Origins

Origin of oy vey¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from Yiddish oy vey “oh woe,” from oy oy ¹ ( def. ) + vey “woe”; woe ( def. )