ooh

IPA/uː/
KK[ˈu]IPA/uː/

ooh — exclamation

1. a drawn-out sound someone makes at once to show delight, approval, interest, sur

1.exclamationA2
Definition

a drawn-out sound someone makes at once to show delight, approval, interest, surprise, or sudden pain.

Example

Ooh, this soup smells amazing with all that fresh basil.

Ooh, + comment for immediate pleasure

Ooh, your new glasses look great on you, Nina.

Ooh for warm approval of appearance

Common collocations
  • ooh, lovely
  • ooh, pretty
  • ooh, that hurts
  • ooh, look at that
Synonyms
  • oh

    more neutral and much more common; can show many kinds of reaction

  • wow

    stronger and usually more openly excited

  • aah

    often softer, warmer, and more relaxed

Grammar Patterns

Ooh, + comment

Ooh! + reaction

Usage Note

Usually longer and warmer than 'oh', and often positive. A short sharp 'ooh!' can also show pain. Distinguish from 'oh', which is the more neutral reaction word and is more often used for sudden understanding.

Common Mistakes

Ooh, now I understand the homework.
Oh, now I understand the homework.
use 'oh' for sudden understanding; 'ooh' usually sounds admiring, pleased, or hurt.

ooh — verb

ooh — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: exclamation/1

'Ooh' is a warm, drawn-out reaction sound. People use it when something looks pretty, tasty, cute, exciting, or suddenly painful. 'Oh' is the broad everyday choice: it can show surprise, understanding, disappointment, or interest, so it is much more neutral. 'Wow' is stronger and more dramatic than 'ooh', and it usually points to real amazement rather than gentle delight. 'Aah' is softer and calmer, often used when something feels sweet, relaxing, or touching. Compare these: 'Ooh, that cake looks good' suggests pleased interest; 'Wow, that cake is enormous' sounds more impressed; 'Oh, I see' shows understanding, not admiration.

ooh ↗oh ↗wow ↗aah

Etymology

English

'Ooh' developed in English as a lengthened spelling of 'oh'. Writers used the extra letter to show a longer, rounder sound, especially one of pleased surprise or fascinated interest. Because it began as a natural reaction noise rather than a borrowed root word, its history is simple: first the interjection, then the verb and noun built from that sound. By the nineteenth century, English writers were already using 'ooh' on the page to represent speech.