Oh

How to spell oh

2 letters · 1 syllable

How to pronounce oh

What does oh mean?

1. interjectionAn exclamation expressing a sudden reaction such as surprise, understanding, disappointment, or pain.

Oh in a sentence

• Oh no, she had left her wallet at the restaurant.

• Oh, I finally understand how the spreadsheet formula works.

Where does oh come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

Oh is an interjection that English has used since the early 1500s to voice sudden feeling, whether surprise, pain, longing, or recognition. It is what linguists call an interjection of spontaneous emotion, meaning it imitates a natural vocal sound rather than descending from an older content word. Similar forms appear right across European languages, including the Latin and French exclamation 'o', which shows the impulse is ancient and widespread. Earlier English writing often used the plain spelling 'o' for both the address marker ('O Lord') and the emotional cry, and over time the longer 'oh' settled in for the emotional use while bare 'o' lingered in poetic or formal address. The spelling trap is small but real: the silent 'h' distinguishes the exclamation from the letter 'o' and from its homophone 'owe', so the 'h' is worth remembering as the marker of feeling.

How the word is built

• oh (a single interjection, not built from a prefix, root, or suffix; an imitation of a spontaneous vocal sound)

Words that sound like oh

They sound the same but mean different things, so the meaning decides which spelling to write.

• owe: To be under obligation to pay or repay money or goods to someone.