Inklingo

ox

oh-ks/oks/

ox means shoo! in Spanish (specifically used for birds).

shoo!

Also: scat!
Spain
A person gently waving their hands to encourage a group of small birds to fly away from a garden path.

📝 In Action

¡Ox! ¡Fuera de la cocina, gallinas!

A2

Shoo! Out of the kitchen, chickens!

El niño gritaba «¡ox, ox!» para espantar a los pájaros del jardín.

B1

The boy was shouting 'shoo, shoo!' to scare the birds away from the garden.

Se marchó de la reunión sin decir ox ni mox.

C1

He left the meeting without saying a single word.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • za (shoo (for birds))
  • fuera (out)

Common Collocations

  • decir oxto say shoo
  • espantar con un oxto scare away with a shoo

Idioms & Expressions

  • Sin decir ox ni moxTo not say a word or not protest at all

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "ox" in Spanish:

scat!shoo!

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: ox

Question 1 of 3

What is the primary target when someone says '¡Ox!'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family
oxear(to shoo away birds)Verb
oxeo(the act of shooing birds)Noun
🎵 Rhymes
box
📚 Etymology

An onomatopoeic word, created to mimic the sharp sound used to startle and drive away domestic fowl.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

Portuguese: oxe

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use 'ox' to tell a person to go away?

Not really. Unless you are being intentionally funny or rude by treating the person like a chicken, it's better to use 'vete' or 'fuera'.

Is 'ox' the same as 'os'?

No. 'Os' is a pronoun used for 'you all' in Spain. 'Ox' is a sound used to scare birds. They sound similar but are totally different!

How do you pronounce the 'x' in 'ox'?

Just like the 'ks' sound in the English word 'box'.