oy gevalt

[ oi ge-vawlt ]

interjection

, Yiddish.

1. (used to express dismay, pain, shock, grief, etc., or as a cry for help):

   I’ve had a nasty week, and, oy gevalt, it's only Monday!

   As I stood in shock, surrounded by broken glass, I could hear my mom shouting, "Aaron! Oy gevalt!"

Word History and Origins

Origin of oy gevalt¹

First recorded in 1915–20; from Yiddish oy gevald “oh woe,” from oy oy ¹( def ) + gevald “force, violence”; herald ( def ), wield ( def )