English vocabulary: Exclamations — 38 words

interjection expressing surprise or seeking confirmation

Also means: present-tense verb meaning remains until something happens · interjection signaling reconsideration or correction · imperative verb telling someone to pause

oh

/oʊ/

dismay

Also means: surprise or realization · relief or pleasure · sympathy or regret

exclamation expressing strong emotion

hey

/heɪ/

getting attention before a question or suggestion

Also means: greeting someone · calling someone out or protesting · informal conversational tag after thanks

lol

/lɑl/

laughter marker

wow

/waʊ/

expression of surprise or amazement

Also means: expression of admiration

ha

/hɑː/

laughter

haha

/ˈhɑːhɑː/

laughter interjection

um

/ʌm/

hesitation filler

aww

/ɔː/

expressing affection or tenderness

NO

/noʊ/

expression of dismay

Also means: emphatic negative response · expression of disbelief

ah

/ɑː/

expresses realization or understanding

alright

/ɔːlˈraɪt/

okay; agreement or acknowledgment

boom

/buːm/

a booming sound

uh

/ʌ/

hesitation filler

ugh

/ʌɡ/

expression of annoyance or frustration

splash

/splæʃ/

splashing sound or exclamation

Also means: small amount of liquid

hahaha

/həˈhɑːhɑː/

laughter

yay

/jeɪ/

joyful exclamation

ooh

/uː/

expresses surprise or interest

shhh

/ʃː/

request for silence

nooo

/noʊː/

emphatic negative response

emphatic yes

what

/wʌt/

exclamatory interjection expressing surprise or confusion

Also means: interrogative pronoun asking which thing or information · free relative pronoun meaning “the thing(s) that” · interrogative determiner asking which kind or item

go

/ɡəʊ/

an exclamation of encouragement or support

Also means: move or leave · proceed or happen in a particular way · be lost or no longer available

come

/kʌm/

urge someone to act

Also means: arrive or attend · return · advance or flow inward

no

/noʊ/

expression of dismay

Also means: not any; zero · negative answer or disagreement · not anymore (in “no longer”)

attention-getting discourse marker

Also means: direct one’s gaze · appear · search for

way

/weɪ/

exclamation of disbelief or refusal in “no way”

Also means: manner or style · route or path · means or method

great

/ɡreɪt/

interjection expressing approval

Also means: excellent; very good · kinship prefix: one generation further removed · to a high degree

exclaims about degree or quality

Also means: asks about manner or method · introduces a content clause · asks about amount or degree

exclamation expressing surprise at a coincidence

Also means: limited in size or extent · minor or unimportant · low in volume

nice

/naɪs/

an approving exclamation

Also means: pleasant or agreeable · kind and generous · attractive in appearance

whatever

/wʌtˈɛvɚ/

dismissive expression of indifference

Also means: anything that; an unspecified thing · no matter what; regardless of what · any; of any kind

seriously

/ˈsɪriəsli/

really? expressing disbelief

Also means: in earnest; with serious intent · as important; with due consideration · sincerely; I really mean it

amazing

/əˈmeɪzɪŋ/

an exclamation expressing surprise or admiration

Also means: extremely impressive or wonderful · excellent, especially in taste or quality

hello

/həˈloʊ/

calling for attention or expressing surprise

Also means: greeting someone · answering or starting a phone call

impossible

/ɪmˈpɑsəbəl/

standalone exclamation of disbelief

Also means: not possible · unreal or beyond belief