abracadabra

/ˌæbɹəkəˈdæbɹə/

From Late Latin abracadabra, a word used in magical writings, of unknown origin. Relationships have been suggested with Abraxas (a Gnostic deity), and with various Aramaic or Hebrew terms עַבְרָא כְּדַבְרָא (avra kedavra, literally “what was said has come to pass”), עַבְדָא כְּדַבְרָא (avda kedavra, literally “what was said has been done”); אַרְבַּע-אֶחַד-אַרְבַּע (arba-eḥad-arba, literally “four-one-four”), but there is little supporting evidence.

unk

unknown

Next, the conjuror filled a glass with water from a big jug and then covered the tumbler with a cloth. "Abracadabra," he cried and crumpled the cloth.

1971, Richard Carpenter, Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac, Harmondsworth: Puffin Books, page 49:

Used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed.

abrakadabra

used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed


abracadabra

[äbräˈkäːd̪äbrä]

Inscrībis chartae quod dīcitur "abracadabra",
Saepius, et subter repetis, sed dētrahe summae,
Ut magis atque magis dēsint elementa figūrīs
Singula, quae semper rapiēs, et cētera fīgēs,
dōnec in angustum redigātur littera cōnum:

c. 200 CE, Quintus Serenus Sammonicus, Liber Medicinalis

Write on a piece of paper the word abracadabra, repeating it below while taking away the last letter, so that a single letter is further and further lacking, until it has the shape of a cone: remember to surround the [patient's] neck with linen with the paper hanging from it.


abracadabra

[ˌa.βɾɐ.kɐˈða.βɾɐ]

abracadabra (used to indicate that a magic trick or other illusion has been performed)


abracadabra

Borrowed from French abracadabra or Italian abracadabra.


absolutely

From late Middle English absolutly, equivalent to absolute + -ly.
First attested in 1425.

ref

“absolutely, adv.”, in OED Online , Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Is Bob a good teacher?
Absolutely!

Do you want a free cookie with that coffee?
Absolutely!

Yes, certainly; expression indicating strong agreement.


FTP

"Fuck the police" emerged as the unofficial motto of the 1992 riots in Los Angeles[…]Following the murder of Michael Brown in Ferguson, street signs and businesses were frequently tagged with FTP.

[2018, David Correia, Tyler Wall, Police: A Field Guide, page 263:

As nationwide protests continue to grow, demanding justice for George Floyd and the black community as a whole, YG has shared a new protest song titled "FTP (F--- the Police)."

2020 June 2, “YG Has a Clear Message in New Protest Song 'FTP'”, in Billboard:


FTP

En man i Norge fick en registreringsskylt med bokstavskombinationen FTP godkänd. Nu vill polisen att man ser över beslutet – på grund av förkortningens innebörd, skriver norska TV2. […] ”FTP är en välkänd jargong i kriminella miljöer som är en förkortning för ”Fuck The Police”.

2018 September 15, Malin Wigen, “Fick nummerplåt godkänd – nu vill polisen avlägsna den [Got License Plate Approved – Now Police Want to Remove It]”, in Aftonbladet:

A man in Norway got a license plate with the letter combination FTP approved. Now, the police want to review the decision due to the abbreviation's meaning, writes Norway's TV2. […] "FTP is a well-known slang in criminal circles that stands for "Fuck The Police."


FAQ

From a mishearing of fuck you by livestreamer Sakura Miko.


fnord

A neologism from the Principia Discordia popularized in the Illuminatus! trilogy.

(Discordianism) A word (which may or may not be "fnord" itself) commonly held to be invisible to the conscious mind, but subliminally causing a sense of unease or sudden anger when encountered. So used in the Illuminatus! trilogy.

(Discordianism) A word defined as having no definition.


parole

Inherited from Middle French parole, from Old French parole, inherited from Vulgar Latin *paraula, from Late Latin, from Latin parabola (“comparison; later, speech”), from Ancient Greek παραβολή (parabolḗ). Doublet of parabole and palabre.


yo-ho-ho

/ˈjəʊhəʊhəʊ/

/jəʊhəʊˈhəʊ/

The term was popularized by a (fictional) pirate shanty in the novel Treasure Island (1883) by Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) – see the quotation – but appears in earlier songs of sailors. The term is possibly a variant of yo-he-ho, apparently a short form of yo-heave-ho (“a repetitive call made to synchronize workers performing some collective physical labour, such as hauling on a rope”).

How happy, my comrades, how happy are we, / While drawing fish from the dark rolling sea, / While drawing fish from the dark rolling sea. / Yo ho, yo ho, yo ho, ho, ho!

[1852, William B[atchelder] Bradbury, “The Fisherman”, in The Alpine Glee Singer: A Complete Collection of Secular and Social Music, […], New York, N.Y.: Newman & Ivison, […], →OCLC, page 66:

We're rolling along, rolling along, / As over the sea we go, / As over the sea we go, / And our anchor we heave, while we're singing our song. / Sing yo! ho! cheery men, ho! / Sing yo! cheery men, ho!

[1876, W. O. Perkins, “Sailor’s Chorus”, in The Male Voice Glee Book, for Colleges, Men’s Vocal Clubs, and the Social Circle; […], Boston, Mass.: Oliver Ditson & Company, […], →OCLC, page 52:

The endless ballad had come to an end at last, and the whole diminished company about the camp fire had broken into the chorus I had heard so often:— / "Fifteen men on the dead man's chest— / Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum! / Drink and the devil had done for the rest— / Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!"

1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The Ebb-tide Runs”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part V (My Sea Adventure), page 188:

Where the Ships sail down / To the Western Sun / Alone in the Ocean Blue, / Yo ho ho! Yo ho ho! / Yo ho ho! Yo ho ho!

1914, Werner Mathews, “Sailor’s Song. (Invitation to the Sea).”, in Adolescence: Being Selections from Occasional Poems and Meditations Illustrating that of the Author, Cambridge: At the press of the Cambridge Review; Fabb & Tyler, Limited, →OCLC, page 45:

'With a yo ho ho and we'll raise the flag, / We've lots of cake in a paper bag. / We've six watermelons and pizza too. / It's a pirate's life for me and you!' / The sound of singing—well, something like singing, anyway—floated up from the creek.

2004, Jackie French, “My Mum the Pirate”, in One Big Wacky Family, Sydney, N.S.W.: Angus & Robertson, →ISBN:

When Asha threw the hair clip, the pirates jumped like flying fish to grab it. Pirate Joe leaped the highest and caught it. "Yo ho ho! It's mine!" he said.

2016, Adam Guillain, Charlotte Guillain, edited by Catherine Coe, Yo Ho Ho! (Rising Stars Reading Planet), London: Rising Stars UK, Hodder Education Group, →ISBN, page 13:

A cry associated with pirates and seafaring, originally a repetitive chant intended to synchronize workers performing some collective physical labour, such as hauling on a rope.


lol

(Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative form of LOL


lol

(archaic) Used in song as a nonsense syllable.


nonsense

From non- (“no, none, lack of”) + sense, from c. 1610. Compare the semantically similar West Frisian ûnsin (“nonsense”), Dutch onzin (“nonsense”), German Unsinn (“nonsense”), English unsense (“nonsense”).

The operators present this as a passenger benefit by claiming it provides early notice. Nonsense! This just means that passengers can't find any information about the train they thought they were catching. It simply disappears.

2023 January 11, Philip Haigh, “Comment: The worst chaos for 40 years”, in RAIL, number 974, page 4:

An emphatic rejection of something one has just heard and does not believe or agree with.


whatever

From Middle English whatever. By surface analysis, what + ever.

So you don't like Mrs Jones. Whatever. What's that got to do with my question?

Go brush your teeth. – Whatever!

"It's not silk, it's muslin." "Whatever."

1991 January 7, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, page 66:

Yeah, whatever you old dried up fat hog.

1998 June 3, “Conjoined Fetus Lady”, in South Park, season 2, episode 5:

(colloquial) A holophrastic expression used to dismiss something that the speaker doesn't care about, doesn't think important, or doesn't want to consider or discuss any further.

طُز

indicating the speaker does not care what someone says


march

From French marche, derived from the verb marcher (“to march”). The interjection is borrowed from the French imperative of this verb.


motherfucker

/ˈmʌðəˌfʌkə/

/ˈmʌðɚˌfʌkɚ/

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *méh₂tēr
Proto-Germanic *mōdēr
Proto-West Germanic *mōder
Old English mōdor
Middle English moder
English mother
Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ-
Proto-Germanic *fukkōną
Old English *fuccian
Middle English *fukken
English fuck
Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz
Proto-West Germanic *-ārī
Old English -ere
Middle English -er
English -er
English fucker
English motherfucker
Compound of mother + fucker; attested since 1918. The injury comes from the implication of somebody sleeping with their own mother, but was probably not used literally until later.

etymon

(vulgar) Expressing dismay, discontent, or surprise.


OMC

(chiefly Internet slang, text messaging) An exclamation of excitement, surprise, shock etc.; OMG


minute

Inherited from Old French minute, borrowed from Latin minūta. Compare menu, an inherited doublet.


bollocks

From Middle English ballokes (plural of ballok), from Old English beallucas (nominative plural of bealluc). By surface analysis, bollock + -s. Compare cullion.

inh

plural of <i class="Latn mention" lang="enm">ballok</i>

nominative plural of <i class="Latn mention" lang="ang">bealluc</i>

Oh bollocks, I'm late for work!

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) An expression of anger, frustration, etc.

Bollocks! That never happened!

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, vulgar, slang) An expression of incredulity.


crap

From Middle English crappe, also in plural: crappys, craps (“chaff; buckwheat”), from Middle French crape, from Old French crappe, crapin (“chaff”) (compare Medieval Latin crappa pl, also crapinum), from Old Dutch krappen (“to cut off, pluck off”) (whence Middle Dutch crappe, crap (“a chop, cutlet”), whence Dutch krip (“a steak”)). Related to crop.

der

Oh crap! The other driver's going to hit my car!

Crap! I lost the game.

What the crap?!

Aw, crap, I have to start over again from the beginning of the level.

(slang, often vulgar) Expression of worry, fear, shock, surprise, disgust, annoyance, or dismay.


fa

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

nonlemma

Fa que no es veu!

(literally, “it does that it's not seen!”)

(dialectal) a particle used in some dialects to emphasize a negative sentence


fa

(Argentina) ew, phew (expression of disgust)


fa

Short for a phrase such as fa fu yu? or fa a e go?


ami

From English amen, from Ecclesiastical Latin āmēn, from Ancient Greek ἀμήν (amḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn, “certainly, verily”) when used by Yoruba Christians, it is invoked with the Anglo-Christian meaning in mind. Also from Arabic آمِين (ʔāmīn), from Classical Syriac ܐܰܡܺܝܢ (ʾāmēn) or Aramaic אַמִין (ʾāmēn), possibly via Koine Greek ᾱ̓μήν (āmḗn), from Biblical Hebrew אָמֵן (ʾāmēn) when used by Yoruba Muslims, it is invoked with the Arabic meaning in mind.


mars

Voorwaarts, mars!


mars

Probably borrowed from German marsch!, French marche!, or alternatively and less likely, an irregular imperative form of marssia (compare seis < seistä).


also

From Middle High German alles, from Old High German also, alsō (“as, like”); equivalent to all + so. Cognate with English also, as.

Ich würde gerne spazieren. Also, los geht's!

I would like to take a walk. Alright, let's go!

alright (Indicates agreement with something.)

Also, was sollen wir zu Abend essen?

so (Used as a lead-in or to start a new topic.)

Das ist nicht wichtig. Also, wie ich bereits sagte, es kommt auf den Preis an.

That's not important. As I said before, the price matters.

Used to resume an interrupted train of thought.

Schmeckt dir die Suppe? Nein, also ich hasse sie!

An intensifier, indicates an emotional connection to the statement.


tax

bad argument #1 to 'lower' (string expected, got nil)

an onomatopoeia expressing the sound of blows, whack, crack


full stop

We need more people to join IRC, full stop.

(colloquial) Used to emphasize the end of an important statement or point when speaking to show something is not up for discussion or debate.


f

From f, an abbreviation for fuck, from Middle English *fukken, probably from Proto-Germanic *fukkōną, from Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ- (“to strike, punch, stab”).

(slang, euphemistic, usually in phrase f you / f ju) fuck


nu

(Jewish) An exclamation of surprise, emphasis, doubt, etc.

ну

exclamation of surprise, emphasis, doubt etc.

(Jewish) Well? (Used as a question to demand an answer from someone reluctant to answer.)


nu

Nu pojď!

(dated) expresses agreement and participation in a conversation

(dated) expresses consolation (esp. to a child)


nu

From Russian ну (nu) and German nu, of Slavic origin (compare Polish no).

Nu, li diris, ke li ne volas ĉeesti la feston.

Well, he said he doesn't want to go to the party.

well (filled pause, particularly at the beginning of a response to a question)


nu

From Middle High German nu, nuo. The form without a final -n remained common in some dialects and was reinforced by German Low German nu, from Middle Low German nû.

(colloquial or archaic) Alternative form of nun


nu

From a Slavic dialect, probably Sorbian. Compare Czech ano (“yes”), Polish no (“yeah; well”), Russian ну (nu, “yeah; well”). In the sense of a filled pause touching on etymology 1 above.

(colloquial, regional, Saxony) yes; yeah; expresses agreement or understanding

(colloquial, regional, Saxony) well; fills pause


nu

Nu, kas notika?


nu

Umniés pisać? Nu ale umniem. (Far Masovian)

(dialectal, Far Masovian) Alternative form of no (“yes”)


os

Nyob zoo os.

Tuaj os.

Noj mov os.

a final emphatic particle, usually used to express sincerity


LOL

Acronyms. Laugh Out Loud abbreviation apparently coined by Canadian Wayne Pearson in the early-to-mid 1980s and first attested in 1989.

lol

denotes light-heartedness or unseriousness

(Internet slang, text messaging) Laughing (or laugh) out loud.

пацтало́м

most expressions are in "padonki" style, deliberately distorted spellings

(Internet slang, text messaging) Lots of laughs. (occasionally used)

(Internet slang, text messaging, by dilution) Indicates light-heartedness or amusement, or that the accompanying statement is not intended as serious.

SHEESH !!!! ¶ LOL (Laugh out loud) &&&& ¶ LOL (Lots of love, coz I'm a sharing caring kinda gal) ¶ Nikki

2002 November 29, Me Here, “Latest Rugby Poll.”, in nz.general (Usenet):

Explaining how much I hated being away from him for another weekend, how I had to do it to pay for his school, for our life. Heartfelt, heart-full, I signed it "LOL, Dad.". Then a pause. And I see appearing on my screen these words. "Dad: what exactly do you think LOL means?" "Lots of Love, obviously," I replied.

2007, Adam Gopnik, Through the Children's Gate, →ISBN:

The answer is in Job 40:7 to the end of the chapter, and 2 tim 2:11 thru 2:21. LOL, Dad Miscommunication: I was thinking he was laughing he didn't tell that was not true. An on-looker said he may mean lots of love. I asked and he didn't answer but he hugged me the next time he saw me for two seconds. Progress not perfection.

2010, Keturah Wasler, Box of Chocolates: Piece from My Heart, →ISBN, page 20:

John 21:15, 16,17 Back in the fifties, when I used to write childish letters in long-hand to my grandmothers, I would delight in closing with LOL, by which I intended the sentiment "Lots of Love"! This was followed by "XOXOXOXO", which, of course, was hugs and kisses.

2011, Rhonda K. Kindig, Found in Translation, →ISBN, page 105:

One of the most famous examples of this misunderstanding came to prominence three years ago, thanks to a screengrab of this text message sent by a mother to her son: "Your great aunt just passed away. LOL".

2014 May 28, Stuart Heritage, “25 years of LOL – the good and bad bits”, in The Guardian:


LOL

(Internet slang, text messaging) LOL (expression of laughter)


um

Um, I don’t know.

Let’s see... um... how about this?

It's a great test of the claims of open-source gurus, who say that a self-motivated community can outcode any team working for a single employer—like, um, Microsoft.

Expression of hesitation, uncertainty or space filler in conversation.

"About the same, wherever you go," he agreed.
"Um," I said.

1963, Kurt Vonnegut, Cat's Cradle, Dell Publishing Co., Inc., page 65:

Um, excuse me!

(US) An expression to forcefully call attention to something wrong.

While I was in her room, Sam walked by and said, “Um, I'm telling!”
“You're telling what?” I asked.
“You're reading Tori's journal,” she said.

2011, Kimberly Willis Holt, Piper Reed, Clubhouse Queen:

Mair used to look after Laura. If anyone threatened to tease her, Mair would stand up straight, point her finger at the enemy and shout, 'Um! I'm telling on you!'

2021, Sarah Strangeways, The Gingerbread House, page 13:

(UK, childish) An expression of shocked disapproval used by a child who witnesses forbidden behavior.


अ

अ अनन्त ― A Ananta ― O Vishnu!


fy

"O fy, Andrew, how can ye say sae? How can ye doubt that it was in the Almighty's name?"


fy

phew, shame; interjection expressing disapproval or disgust


fy

Fy!

Don't do that! / That thing you did was bad! (often towards a child or pet or the like)

Fy på dig!
Fie on you! ("You have acted in a bad way!", often towards a child or pet or the like – less dated-sounding in Swedish)

Fy så här stinker

Nämen fy så hemskt!

Fy fan vilken hemsk situation

shame, phew, fie; interjection expressing disapproval, disgust, or outrage


standard

From Middle English standard, from Old French estandart (“gathering place, battle flag”), from Frankish *standahard (literally “stand firm, stand hard”), equivalent to stand + -ard. Alternative etymology derives the second element from Frankish *oʀd (“point, spot, place”) (compare Old French ordé (“pointed”), Old English ord (“point, source, vanguard”), German Standort (“location, place, site, position, base”, literally “standing-point”)). Merged with Middle English standar, stander, standere (“flag, banner”, literally “stander”), equivalent to stand + -er. More at stand, hard, ord.


is

as if, as if it were true, it could be, is it really?, what do you mean by that?, so you say expressing surprise


te

Cognate with Latvian te. The interjection is identical to Ancient Greek τῆ (tê, “here!, take this!”), which Beekes derives from Proto-Indo-European *teh₁, the instrumental neuter singular form of *tód. Compare Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌸𐌴 (biþē, “while”), 𐌳𐌿𐌸𐌴 (duþē, “therefore”), Tocharian A ca-, Tocharian B ce (“demonstrative pronoun”) < *tē, and possibly Old Armenian թէ (tʻē, “that”).

Tè táu pinigų̃ – pir̃k tù sáu laũko kókį sklypẽlį.

Here, have some money, go buy yourself a piece of land.

(with object cases) here you go, take this (when giving something to someone)


morning

From Middle English morwenyng, from morwen + -ing. By surface analysis, morn + ing. See also morrow (Middle English morwe).


aloha

Borrowed from Hawaiian aloha (“love”), from Proto-Polynesian *qarofa. Doublet of aroha and aropa.

(chiefly Hawaii) Expressing good wishes when greeting or parting from someone; hello; goodbye.


aloha

→ English: aloha

From Proto-Polynesian *qarofa, from Proto-Oceanic *qalopan, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *qaləpan, from Proto-Austronesian *qaləpan, from *qaləp (“to beckon, wave”). Cognate with Maori aroha.

Aloha kākou!

Aloha e Kaleo!
Bye Kaleo!


word

From Middle English word, from Old English word, from Proto-West Germanic *word, from Proto-Germanic *wurdą, from Proto-Indo-European *wr̥dʰh₁om. Doublet of verb and verve; further related to vrata.

"Yo, that movie was epic!" / "Word?" ("You speak the truth?") / "Word." ("I speak the truth.")

(slang) Truth, indeed, that is the truth! The shortened form of the statement "My word is my bond."

"[…] Know what I'm sayin'?" / "Word!" the other man strongly agreed. "Let's do this — "

2004, Shannon Holmes, Never Go Home Again: A Novel, page 218:

"[…] Not bad at all, man. Worth da wait, dawg. Word." / "You liked it?" I asked dumbly, stoned still, and feeling victorious. / "Yeah, man," said Oral B. "Word up. […]"

2007, Gabe Rotter, Duck Duck Wally: A Novel, page 105:

"[…] I mean, I don't blame you... Word! […]"

2007, Relentless Aaron, The Last Kingpin, page 34:

(slang, emphatic, stereotypically, African-American Vernacular) An abbreviated form of word up; a statement of the acknowledgment of fact with a hint of nonchalant approval.


because

From Middle English bi cause, from bi (“by”) + cause, modelled on Old French par cause.

Used alone to refuse to provide a full answer a question begun with "why", usually taken as an anapodoton of the elided full phrase "Because I said so".

sommer

word used in place of an answer to "why"


language

From Middle English langage, language, from Old French language, from Vulgar Latin *linguāticum, from Latin lingua (“tongue, speech, language”), from Old Latin dingua (“tongue”), from Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s (“tongue, speech, language”). Doublet of langaj. Displaced native Old English ġeþēode.

der

/ˈlæŋɡwɪd͡ʒ/

[ˈleɪŋɡwɪd͡ʒ]

You're a pile of shit!
Hey! Language!

An admonishment said in response to vulgar language.


chook

From Irish English chuck (call made to poultry or pigs), from Irish tsiug, tsiuc. Compare English buck buck.

Chook, chook, quack, quack, / Cock-a-doodle-doo; / All the ducks and the fowls / Admire me, they do.

1875 July 23, Sydney Punch, page 1, column 1:


now

From Middle English now, nou, nu, from Old English nū, from Proto-West Germanic *nū, from Proto-Germanic *nu, from Proto-Indo-European *nū (“now”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots noo (“now”), Saterland Frisian nu (“now”), West Frisian no (“now”), Dutch nu, nou (“now”), German nu, nun (“now”), Norwegian Bokmål nå (“now”), Norwegian Nynorsk no (“now”), Swedish and Danish nu (“now”), Icelandic nú (“now”), Latin num (“even now, whether”), Latin nunc (“now”), Albanian ni (“now”), Lithuanian nù (“now”), Avestan 𐬥𐬏 (nū, “now”), Sanskrit नु (nu, “now”).

Now! Fire all we've got while the enemy is in reach!


hell

From Middle English helle, from Old English hell, from Proto-West Germanic *hallju, from Proto-Germanic *haljō (“concealed place, netherworld”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱel- (“to cover, conceal, save”).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Hälle (“hell”), West Frisian hel (“hell”), Dutch hel (“hell”), German Low German Hell (“hell”), German Hölle (“hell”), Norwegian helvete (“hell”), Icelandic hel (“the abode of the dead, death”). Also related to the Hel of Germanic mythology. See also hele.

cog

Oh, hell! I got another parking ticket.

O hell! what have we here?
A carrion Death, within whose empty eye
There is a written scroll! […]

c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii]:

(colloquial, sometimes vulgar) Used to express discontent, unhappiness, or anger.

Hell, yeah!

(colloquial, sometimes vulgar, non-productive) Used to emphasize.

Do it, or, rest assured, there will be no more Middle Eastern crisis – hell, there will be no more Middle East!

(colloquial, sometimes vulgar) Used to introduce an intensified statement following an understated one; nay; not only that, but.


hell

From Old Swedish heel, from Old Norse heill (“good omen, luck”, literally “whole, healthy”). Doublet of hel.

inh

(archaic) hail (exclamation or greeting)


wall

Wall, they spoke up, 'n' says to her, s'd they, "Why, look a-here, aunty, Wus't his skin, 't was rock?" so s's she, "I guess not." (Well, they spoke up and says to her, said they, "Why look a-here, aunty, was it his skin that was rock [referring to the Apostle Peter]?" So says she, "I guess not.")

1858, Robert Lowell, The New Priest in Conception Bay:

Wall, be that as it may, ol' Hosshead was a purty good citizen in his day, an' he shore did make Juneybell toe the mark.

1988, Herbert M. Sutherland, Tall Tales of the Devil's Apron, The Overmountain Press, →ISBN, page 97:

Pronunciation spelling
pronunciation spelling


would

From Old English wolde, past tense of willan, predecessor of will.

(slang, idiomatic) Ellipsis of I would: used to denote that the speaker finds another person sexually attractive.


tempo

From Old Galician-Portuguese tempo, from Latin tempus (“time”), from Proto-Indo-European *tempos (“stretch”), from the root *temp- (“to stretch, string”).


de

“Dum de dum, dum de dum”, he hummed as he sauntered down the road.

A meaningless unstressed syllable used when singing a tune or indicating a rhythm.


de

Compare Romanian di, employed with horses or oxen for the same purpose.

Fol de!

Ashtu de!

This manner! (expressing happiness or satisfaction for the work done)

Hë të lumtë goja, de!

Denotes intensity, often after imperatives or some adverbs.


cooee

From Dharug guuu-wi adopted into English by white settlers in Australia from 1790.

Cooee! I'm over here!

Then, raising her hands to her lips she utters a long, loud, piercing " Cooee ! "
" Coo — ee ! " comes back over the black waters.

2001, June E. Barker, First Platypus, Gaygar—The Little Mother Duck, in Helen F. McKay (editor), Pauline E. McLeod, Francis Firebrace Jones, June E. Barker, Gadi Mirrabooka: Australian Aboriginal Tales from the Dreaming, page 58,
Gaygar could hear her people cooee out to her, "COOEE, GAYGAR! COOEE, GAYGAR!" they would cry.

(informal, chiefly Australia, UK) Used to attract someone's attention.


pip

From Old Norse *pípa, from Proto-Germanic *pīpaną.

Pip! Datorn pep.

"Pip!" sa musen och fågelungen

The mouse squeaked and the baby bird peeped


g'day

"G'day, Missus," said he, with a jerk of his head, and he shifted from one leg to the other, and turned his hat over and over uneasily in his great brown hands.
[…]
"G'day," said 'Lizer, with a bright smile that revealed the prettiest of white teeth. The girl's mouth was as fresh as a rose.
[…]
"G'day, Missus, hope you're keepin' well, an' the Boss, an' the children. Got back sooner'n I expected; Well, how's my mate shapin?" said he.
[…]
It ain't no one's fault but mine," he said, generously. "G'day, Missus; I'm goin' ter find my mate, alive-or dead;" and he galloped away.

1901 December 14, Bushwoman, “Lizer o' th' Overshot”, in Australian Town and Country Journal:

G'day, Muck.
[…]
Ned

2012 February 20, Ned Latham, “Odd behaviour UPLOAD”, in aus.computers.linux (Usenet):

(Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ottawa Valley, colloquial) Hi, hello.

Golf Golf Whiskey Golf, cleared the ILS approach runway one two, contact Sault Tower one one eight decimal eight, g'day.

(Canada, US, air traffic control, informal) Denotes the end of a radio transmission.


amai

According to the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, the term is an evolution of the now obsolete interjections amij, amy or ammy (formed from ah and the personal pronoun mij; compare also French à moi), as an exclamation of sorrow or indignation, pain, aversion, pity, etc.

Amai, wa'ne klap!

Wa'ne stoot, amai!

(Belgium, Zeelandic Flanders) exclamation of surprise or disappointment; boy!

Amai, da'ziet er goed uit!

(Belgium, Zeelandic Flanders) oh my, amazing


say

From Middle English seyen, seien, seggen, from Old English seċġan (“to say, speak”), from Proto-West Germanic *saggjan, from Proto-Germanic *sagjaną (“to say”), from Proto-Indo-European *sokʷ-h₁-yé-, a suffixed o-grade form of *sekʷ- (“to tell, talk”).
Cognate with West Frisian sizze (“to say”), Low German seggen (“to say”), Dutch zeggen (“to say”), German sagen (“to say”), Danish sige (“to say”), Norwegian Bokmål si (“to say”), Norwegian Nynorsk seia (“to say”), Swedish säga (“to say”), Yiddish זאָגן (zogn, “to say; to tell”).
The adverb and interjection are from the verb.

Say, what did you think about the movie?

(US, colloquial) Used to gain someone's attention before making an inquiry or suggestion


affirmative

/əˈfɜːmətɪv/

From Middle English affirmative, affirmatyve, from Old French affirmatif, from Latin affirmativus, from affirmare (“to assert”).

(military, especially radio communications) Yes; true; correct.


be

(colloquial) used with children to tell them not to touch something, bad! no touchy!

(onomatopoeia) used to imitate the sound of a sheep or ram, baa


be

(very informal) hey there, hey! you! (implying disapproval of the addressee’s actions)

Bu yük çok ağır be!


ate

Etymology unclear. Compare Latvian atā. The word may not be very old, and may ultimately derive from French adieu, via a Slavic intermediary.


ate

Ate! Inyatapai itsei!

Ow! [The] fire is hot! [I got singed or burned].

ow, ouch (expressing pain in response to heat)


yak

Yak! Minamanyak niya 'yong babae!

used to indicate disgust or nausea: yuck; ew


too

From Hausa tṑ; cognate with Baatonum to.


here

From Middle English her, from Old English hēr (“at this place”), from Proto-West Germanic *hēr, from Proto-Germanic *hē₂r, from *hiz + *-r, from Proto-Indo-European *kís, from *ḱe + *ís.
Cognates
Cognate with Saterland Frisian hier, West Frisian hjir, Dutch hier, German Low German hier, German hier, Danish her, Swedish här, Norwegian her, Faroese her, Icelandic hér. Also related to the English pronoun he (“this/that person”), and the words hither (“to this place”) and hence (“from this place”).

Here, now I'm giving it to you.

(slang) Used semi-assertively to offer something to the listener.

Here, I'm tired and I want a drink.

(Ireland, British, slang) Used for emphasis at the beginning of a sentence when expressing an opinion or want.


yeah

Colloquial form of yea or yes. Compare nah.

Yeah! We did it!


age

well now, well then, come now (transition)

very well, good, right (sign of affirmation)


qua

Crows have a language of their own in a wild state that any observant person can learn. […] Then he would straighten his head back and, with the most comical bowing and wagging, say: "Qua qua qua, qua qua qua" for perhaps a minute.

1909, The Country Gentleman, volume 74, page 266:

Qua... qua... qua... out of the blue I hear the crows cawing with great fanfare as they announce to the world at large that they are here by my side and intend to probe into my being.


cock

From Middle English cok, from Old English coc, cocc (“cock, male bird”), from Proto-West Germanic *kokk, from Proto-Germanic *kukkaz (“cock”), probably of onomatopoeic origin.
Cognate with Middle Dutch cocke (“cock, male bird”) and Old Norse kokkr ("cock"; whence Danish kok (“cock”), dialectal Swedish kokk (“cock”)). Reinforced by Old French coc, also of imitative origin. The sense "penis" is attested since at least the 1610s, with the compound pillicock (“penis”) attested since 1325.

onomatopoeic

onomatopoeic

gloss

2006, Vamp, “oh cock i should have kept with a toyota!”, in uk.rec.cars.modifications (Usenet):

(UK, Ireland, slang) Expression of annoyance.


nicht

common speech; quasi-standard in northern and central Germany; alternations as above

From Middle High German niwiht, niweht, niht, a contracted form of Old High German niowiht, from nio (“never”) + wiht (“being, creature”), the last from Proto-Germanic *wihtą.

Du bist sicher die Claudia, nicht?

(tag question, dated or formal) right?; is it?; is it not?


of

used for expressing pain, bitterness, regret; despair; abhorrence, disgust; admiration, enthusiasm; wonder, surprise


of

oof (often expressing that some task requires great effort)

ouch (used both for literally and emotionally painful situations)

ugh (expressing disgust or strong dismay)


time

From Middle English tyme, time, from Old English tīma (“time, period, space of time, season, lifetime, fixed time, favorable time, opportunity”), from Proto-West Germanic *tīmō, from Proto-Germanic *tīmô (“time”), from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂imō, from Proto-Indo-European *deh₂y- (“to divide”). Related to tide. Not related directly to Latin tempus.
cognates
*Scots tym, tyme (“time”)
*Alemannic German Zimen, Zīmmän (“time, time of the year, opportune time, opportunity”)
*Danish time (“hour, lesson”)
*Swedish timme (“hour”)
*Norwegian time (“lesson, hour”)
*Faroese tími (“hour, lesson, time”)
*Icelandic tími (“time, season”).

der

(tennis) Reminder by the umpire for the players to continue playing after their pause.

A call by a bartender to warn patrons that the establishment is closing and no more drinks will be served.


dear

From Middle English dere, from Old English dīere (“of great value or excellence, expensive, beloved”), from Proto-West Germanic *diurī, from Proto-Germanic *diurijaz (“dear, precious, expensive”). Cognate with Scots dere, deir (“of great value or worth, highly valued, precious, beloved”), Saterland Frisian djuur (“precious, dear, costly, expensive”), Dutch duur (“costly, precious”), German teuer (“costly, precious”), German Low German düür, Danish dyr (“expensive”), Swedish dyr (“expensive”), Norwegian dyr (“expensive”), Icelandic dýr (“expensive”), Yiddish טייַער (tayer, “precious,expensive”).

cog

Dear, dear! Whatever were they thinking?

Indicating surprise, pity, or disapproval.


hot tamale

Boy oh boy it’s cold today, hot tamale!


toe

From Middle Dutch toe, from Old Dutch *tuo, from Proto-Germanic *tō.

Toe maar!

come on!, go on! (used when trying to coax someone into doing something)


en

look! behold! (presenting something in a lively or indignant manner)

really!? (surprise or anger in questions)

come on! (exhortation to action in imperatives)


rite

Rite, let's do it.


my

An abbreviation of an oath such as my word or my Lord

My, what big teeth you have!

Used to express surprise, shock or amazement.


fuck

Tok Pisin: fak

→⇒ Afrikaans: fok

→ Chinese: 法克 (fǎkè)

→ French: fuck, fucker

→ Icelandic: fokk

→ Irish: foc

→ Japanese: ファック (fakku)

→ Norwegian Bokmål: fucke, føkke

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: fucka, føkka

→ Pitcairn-Norfolk: fak

→ Russian: фак (fak)

→ Serbo-Croatian: fak, фак

→ Welsh: ffwcio

Flen flyys
Slate.com
University of Minnesota Press
fuck

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ-
Proto-Germanic *fukkōną
Old English *fuccian
Middle English *fukken
English fuck
From Middle English *fukken, probably of Germanic origin: either from Old English *fuccian or Old Norse *fukka, both from Proto-Germanic *fukkōną, from Proto-Indo-European *pewǵ- (“to strike, punch, stab”). Compare windfucker and its debated etymology.
Possibly attested in a 772 C.E. charter that mentions a place called Fuccerham, which may mean "ham (“home”) of the fucker" or "hamm (“pasture”) of the fucker"; a John le Fucker in a record from 1278 may just be a variant of Fulcher; compare Fucher, Foker, etc. The earliest unambiguous use of the word in a clearly sexual context, in any stage of English, appears to be in court documents from Cheshire, England, which mention a man called Roger Fuckebythenavele (possibly tongue-in-cheek or directly suggestive of a depraved sexual act) on 8 December 1310. It was first listed in a dictionary in 1598. Scots fuk or fuck is attested slightly earlier, probably reinforcing the Northern Germanic/Scandinavian origin theory. From 1500 onward, the word has been in continual use, superseding jape and sard and largely displacing swive. See windfucker and fuckwind for more information.
A range of folk-etymological backronyms, such as "fornication under consent of the king" and "for unlawful carnal knowledge", are all demonstrably false.
Sense 10, from related sense feck.

der

(vulgar) A semi-voluntary vocalization in place of a gasp.

Oh, fuck! We left the back door unlocked.

Fuck! Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?

Oh, fuck! I forgot to pay that parking ticket and now they want me to appear in court!

(vulgar, colloquial) Expressing dismay or discontent.

Fuck! That movie was good!

(vulgar, colloquial) Expressing surprise or enjoyment.


i

I, pa si le lagal.

used to denote happiness after correct assumption


i

(archaic) used to denote unhappiness or unpleasant surprise

I ja, saj ti verjamem.

(archaic) used to denote that speaker is indifferent to the topic


mi

Mi gyönyörűség!


el

(intransitive, drama) exit, exeunt; he/she leaves or they leave the scene or stage (stage direction for an actor or multiple actors)


welcome

From Middle English welcome, wolcume, wulcume, wilcume, from Old English wilcuma (“a wished-for guest”; compare also wilcume (“welcome!”, interjection)), from Proto-West Germanic *willjakwemō, from Proto-Germanic *wiljakwemô (“a wished-for arrival or guest”), possibly from *wiljakwemaną (“to be welcome”), equivalent to will (“desire”) + come (“comer, arrival”). The component wil- was replaced by wel- when the sense “guest” of the second component was no longer understood, likely under influence from the adverb well. Cognate with Scots walcome, West Frisian wolkom, Dutch welkom (earlier willecome), German willkommen, German Low German willkamen, Danish velkommen, Norwegian Bokmål velkommen, Norwegian Nynorsk velkomen, velkommen, Swedish välkommen, Icelandic velkominn, Faroese vælkomin, and Old French wilecome (whence Middle French willecomme (“welcome”)), from Germanic.
The verb is from Middle English welcomen, wolcumen, wilcumen, from Old English wellcumian, wylcumian, wilcumian (“to welcome, receive gladly”).
Similar constructions are found in Romance languages, such as Italian benvenuto, Spanish bienvenido, French bienvenu, Catalan benvingut, Portuguese bem-vindo and Romanian bun venit, meaning “[may you have fared] well [in] coming [here]”. These do not derive from a Classical Latin root, as no similar construction in Latin is found to exist, but are instead presumed to be the result of a calque from, considering the ruling elite of the Germanic kingdoms which succeeded the Western Roman Empire, a Germanic language into Proto-Romance (Vulgar Latin; see Latin *bene venūtus, and compare perdōnō and compāniō for similar historical calques).

gloss

“a wished-for guest”; compare also <i class="Latn mention" lang="ang">wilcume</i> (“welcome!”, interjection)

com

OpenB@DistalSideChesthigh-PalmAcross RoundVert OpenB@DistalInsideTrunkhigh-PalmUp RoundHoriz OpenB@NearCenterTrunkhigh-PalmUp

እንኳን ደህና መጣህ m እንኳን ደህና መጣሽ f እንኳን ደህና መጡ

ᑕᑕᐘᐤ

both meaning "there is room [for you], so come in"

(nonstandard, especially Southern US) Ellipsis of you're welcome.


jah

Likely borrowed from Proto-Germanic *ja (“yes”). Alternatively a newer loan from Old Swedish jaa, ia (“yes”)

yes, indeed (an affirmative word indicating assent, affirming a statement, or strengthening its affirmation)

„Pean sulle midagi rääkima.” – „Jah?”.
“I have something to tell you.” – “Yes?”.

yes (in a question indicates an expected affirmative answer or encouragement from the interlocutor)

Võtab ta sul, jah, õppust!

yes (indicates doubt, disbelief, or dissatisfaction)


action

From Middle English accion, from Old French aucion, acciun, from Latin āctiō(n) (“act of doing or making”), from āctus + action suffix -iō(n), perfect passive participle of agere (“do, act”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂éǵeti; see also act, active. By surface analysis, act + -ion.

der

The director yelled ‘Action!’ after the cameras started rolling.

Demanding or signifying the start of something, usually a performance.


pi

cheep, used to imitate the sound made by a chick


boom

Onomatopoeic, perhaps borrowed; compare German bummen, Dutch bommen (“to hum, buzz”). The sense "a period of economic growth" is generally taken to derive from the sense "a rapid expansion", although other origins have also been suggested.

crash boom bang

In regards to what happened to Mutsu, well, it went BOOM. To be more prosaic about it, there were a number of theories put forward as to why Mutsu's magazine for its aft superfiring turret exploded, some of them more plausible than others.

2020 January 12, Drachinifel, 47:06 from the start, in The Drydock - Episode 076, archived from the original on 2022-09-26:

Used to suggest the sound of an explosion.

Add one cup of hot water, wait a minute, and boom — your cup of ramen is ready.

So we went around the corner, looked in the garbage, and, boom, there's about 16 of the tapes he didn't like!

Hostile race relations and chronic unemployment are ignored in the suburbs of Paris, London and Sydney, and boom! there are riots.

2013, Peter Westoby, Gerard Dowling, Theory and Practice of Dialogical Community Development:

Used to suggest something happening suddenly or unexpectedly; voilà.


o

Sei gegrüßet, o Du mein Jesu! Mit tieftster Demuth bete ich Dich an und verehre Dich!

1843, Gallus Schwab, Gebetbuch für katholische Christen, Bamberg, page 45:


o

(colloquial) expression of surprise, wonder, amazement, or awe: oh!

(colloquial) used to refer to something given or offered to someone: here you are! here you go!


o

Borrowed from or cognate to Ancient Greek ὦ (ô), from Proto-Indo-European *ō or onomatopoeic.

O tempora, o mores! Senatus haec intellegit, consul videt; hic tamen vivit. Vivit?

63 BCE, Cicero, Catiline Orations Oratio in Catilinam Prima in Senatu Habita.II

Shame on the age and on its principles! The senate is aware of these things; the consul sees them; and yet this man lives. Lives!

et reversus de Galgalis ubi erant idola dixit ad regem verbum secretum habeo ad te o rex et ille imperavit silentium egressisque omnibus qui circa eum erant (Then returning from Galgal, where the idols were, he said to the king: I have a secret message to thee, O king. And he commanded silence: and all being gone out that were about him,)

4th century, St Jerome, Vulgate, Judges 3:19


o

English: oh

Yola: o


o

Polish: o

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *o. First attested in the 14th century.


o

Inherited from Old Polish o, from Proto-Slavic *o, ultimately a natural expression.

onom

natural expression

O mój boże...


o

O Frantziscu!

(Logudorese, Campidanese) a vocative particle; o, hey


o

From Latin ō, eventually conflated with/from Ancient Greek ὦ (ô).

(usually oh) expresses surprise, joy, or pain: oh!; ah!

O ma', po' vèniri cca!?

(usually oh) Typically used before a proper noun in the vocative or nominative case when addressing someone: O...


o

Så låt nu, o konung, härom utfärda ett förbud och sätta upp en skrivelse

Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing (Daniel 6:8)


o

Compare Hokkien 乎 (hôⁿ / hô͘), English oh and Spanish oh.

Hayop naman oh!

used to catch someone's attention about a new topic, question, or story: so; oh!

O, ang regalo ko sa'yo.


o

From Proto-Polynesian *o. Cognates include Hawaiian ō and Samoan o.


o

Than stalket, an gandelt, wie o! an gridane.

1867, “A YOLA ZONG”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 12, page 88:

Then stalked and wondered, with oh! and with grief.


o

ẹ ṣeun o

Used at the end of sentences to emphasize a statement.


o

Used to express compliance to a request; okay; sure

Used to express realization or understanding; oh


o

East Slavic:

Old East Slavic: о (o)

Belarusian: го (ho), о (o) (dialectal)

Ukrainian: о (o)

Russian: о (o)

South Slavic:

Old Church Slavonic:

Old Cyrillic script: о (o)

Bulgarian: о (o)

Macedonian: о (o)

Serbo-Croatian:

Latin script: o

Cyrillic script: о

Slovene: ō

West Slavic:

Czech: o, ó

Old Polish: o
Polish: o

Slovak: o, ó

Sorbian:

Lower Sorbian: o

Upper Sorbian: o

Pomeranian:

Slovincian: o

Inherited from Proto-Balto-Slavic [Term?], from Proto-Indo-European *ō, ultimately a natural expression. Compare Ancient Greek ὦ (ô), Latin ō, Old Irish a, Gothic 𐍉 (ō), Old Armenian ով (ov), Albanian o. Although the Proto-Indo-European form is reconstructed, this interjection could arise at any stage.
As Trubachyov, there is no linkage to other Indo-European interjections.

inh+

Used before a noun in the vocative; O...


non

French: non


church

From Middle English chirche, from Old English ċiriċe (“church”), from Proto-West Germanic *kirikā, an early borrowing of Ancient Greek κυριακόν (kuriakón), neuter form of κυριακός (kuriakós, “belonging to the lord”), from κύριος (kúrios, “ruler, lord”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- (“to swell, spread out, be strong, prevail”). Doublet of kirk.
additional etymological information
 For vowel evolution, see bury. Ancient Greek κυριακόν (kuriakón) was used of houses of Christian worship since circa 300 CE, especially in the East, though it was less common in this sense than ἐκκλησία (ekklēsía, “congregation”) or βασιλική (basilikḗ, “royal thing”). An example of the direct Greek-to-Germanic progress of many Christian words, possibly via the Goths; it was probably used by West Germanic people in their pre-Christian period. Cognate with Scots kirk (“church”), West Frisian tsjerke (“church”), Saterland Frisian Säärke (“church”), Dutch kerk (“church”), German Kirche (“church”), Danish kirke (“church”), Swedish kyrka (“church”), Norwegian Bokmål kirke, Norwegian Nynorsk kyrkje (“church”), and Icelandic kirkja (“church”). Also picked up by Slavic, via Old High German chirihha (compare Old Church Slavonic црькꙑ (crĭky), Bulgarian църква (cǎrkva), Russian це́рковь (cérkovʹ)). Romance and Celtic languages use descendants of Latin ecclēsia.

der

– These burritos are the best! – Church!

(slang) Used to express strong agreement.


see

From Middle English seen, from Old English sēon (“to see, look, behold, perceive, observe, discern, understand, know”), from Proto-West Germanic *sehwan, from Proto-Germanic *sehwaną (“to see”), from Proto-Indo-European *sekʷ- (“to see, notice”).
Cognates
Cognate with West Frisian sjen (“to see”), Dutch zien (“to see”), Low German sehn, German sehen (“to see”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian Bokmål se (“to see”), Norwegian Nynorsk sjå (“to see”), and more distantly with Latin sīgnum (“sign, token”), Albanian shih (“look at, see”) imperative of shoh (“to see”).

der

See, in order to win the full prize we would have to come up with a scheme to land a rover on the Moon.


lama

(informal, Internet slang, text messaging) Abbreviation of laat maar (“never mind”).


shit

→ Dutch: shit

→ Swedish: shit

From Middle English schiten, shiten, from Old English sċītan, from Proto-West Germanic *skītan, from Proto-Germanic *skītaną, from Proto-Indo-European *skéydt, from *skeyd-, *skeh₁i-d (“to cut”) (compare *skey-).
Cognate with West Frisian skite, Low German schieten, Dutch schijten, German scheißen, Danish skide. More at shed.

Shit! I think that I forgot to pack my sleeping bag last night!

Holy shit!

Oh, shit!

(vulgar) Expression of worry, failure, shock, etc., often at something seen for the first time or remembered immediately before using this term.

"Oh, shit. I left my worksheet at home," she said to the language arts teacher, which got her in trouble.

(vulgar) Used to show displeasure or surprise.

All my comrades were laughing and clowning me, but shit, that didn't stop me from talking more shit.

(vulgar) Used for mere emphasis; heck, hey.


shit

Borrowed from English shit. Doublet of schijt.


shit

Shit! Vad är det där?

shit, wow, oh, oh my God, said when surprised or shocked


animal

Borrowed from Spanish animal, from Latin animal, a nominal use of an adjective from animale, neuter of animālis, from anima (“breath, spirit”).

(vulgar) used as an expression of disgust, anger, etc.


alligator

]
From early Modern English alligater, alligarta, aligarto, alegarto, alagarto, from Spanish el lagarto (“the lizard”), from Latin lacertus (“lizard”), modern spelling possibly influenced by the unrelated Latin alligator (“one who binds”).

The same way people will count the seconds between lightning and thunder, I counted the seconds between coughs. One-alligator, two-alligator, three-alligator.

2013, Chuck Palahniuk, “December 21, 9:33 A.M. CST”, in Doomed:

Used in a common chronometric counting scheme, in which the speaker counts out loud, saying the word "alligator" between the numbers so that each number is spoken approximately one second after the last one.


baik

Inherited from Malay baik, from Proto-Malayic *baik, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bait.
Cognates
Cognate with Iban baik, Tagalog bait, Maori pai.

okay (used to introduce a sentence in order to draw attention to the importance of what is being said)


baik

> Indonesian: baik (inherited)

desc

> Peranakan Indonesian: baek (inherited)

From *baik, variant of Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *bait. Cognate with Tagalog bait and Maori pai.

Baik, cikgu, saya akan siapkan kerja itu sekarang juga.

Ok, mister, I will finish that work right now.

okay (Used to indicate agreement or acceptance)


fall

Perhaps from the north-eastern Scottish pronunciation of whale.

(nautical) The cry given when a whale is sighted, or harpooned.


posh

Unknown.
Most likely derived from Romani posh (“half”), either because posh-kooroona (“half a crown”) (originally a substantial sum of money) was used metaphorically for anything pricey or upper-class, or because posh-houri (“half-penny”) came to refer to money generally.
A period slang dictionary defines "posh" as a term used by thieves for "money : generic, but specifically, a halfpenny or other small coin". An example is given from James Payn's The Eavesdropper (1888): "They used such funny terms: 'brads,' and 'dibbs,' and 'mopusses,' and 'posh' ... at last it was borne in upon me that they were talking about money."
Evidence exists for a slang sense from the 1890s meaning dandy, which is quite possibly related.
A popular folk etymology holds that the term is an acronym for "port out, starboard home", describing the cooler, north-facing cabins taken by the most aristocratic or rich passengers travelling from Britain to India and back. However, there is no evidence for this claim.
It could also possibly be a clipping of polished.
See also the articles mentioned in the References section below for additional discussion.

1889: "The czar! Posh! I slap my fingers--I snap my fingers at him." — Rudyard Kipling, The Man Who Was


hut

A short, sharp sound of command. Compare hey, hup, etc.

(American football) Called by the quarterback to prepare the team for a play.


hut

Of imitative origin. Originally a call to stop, chase away, or silence dogs. Attested since 1645. Compare Middle High German hiuzen (“to call to pursuit”), English hoot.

onomatopoeic

imitative

cog

behave! (same as: du ska veta hut! = vet hut! = hut!)


bap

Damian rolls Mr. McNutt over and beats the tar out of him with a series of punches, glasses on or not.
BAP! BAP! SMACK! BAP! BAP! "You and your men are going to get my family killed!" hollers Damian.

2006, Ashaki Boelter., The Nok, page 55:

Elizabeth continued into the living room and saw Velvet napping on the cool linoleum under the dining room table. She stopped to stroke her silky side and the puppy's tail went bap, bap, bap against the floor in greeting.

(informal) The sound of a light blow or slap.


bap

(onomatopoeia) pow (A violent impact, like a punch)


PU

IMO, this stinks. PU.

1994 February 28, zombie, “Future Images”, in rec.arts.comics.misc (Usenet), retrieved 2022-06-20:

1997 February 19, K.A.J., “PU, whats that smell......”, in rec.equestrian (Usenet), retrieved 2022-06-20:

1999 April 7, Thomas Mac Donald, “99 Interior Smell - PU”, in rec.autos.makers.mazda.miata (Usenet), retrieved 2022-06-20:

THIS NEWSGROUP STINKS
PU

2000 March 19, thunde...@webtv.net, “PU WHO CUT THE FRIKIN CHEESE?”, in alt.cheese (Usenet), retrieved 2022-06-20:

Phew can mean you are exhausted, hot, and other things which leave you overwhelmed. Pew is a bench you sit on in church. PU means that something stinks. I feel no connection between these words. While Phew *may* mean "what a stink", PU can mean *only* "what a stink". By the way, PU has been around at least since was a young kid 60 years ago.

2000 February 22, Karl Reinhardt, “How to spell???”, in alt.usage.english (Usenet), retrieved 2022-06-20:

PU? As in Stinks? :^)
Sam (Pee Euw) Sands

2000 October 7, Samuel Sands, “Truck”, in atl.arno (Usenet), retrieved 2022-06-20:

(slang) Alternative form of P U; expression used when encountering a displeasing smell; exaggerated pronunciation of pew.


alo

Nonstandard form of halo (“quiet!; be quiet!”).


alo

Borrowed from French allô. The stress on the first syllable and the palatalization of the /l/ are not readily explained.


NS

(video games, first-person shooters) nice shot


hallelujah

From Hebrew הַלְלוּיָהּ (hal'luyáh, “Praise Yah”).

bor

AND after theſe things I heard a great voyce of much people in heauen, ſaying, Alleluia: ſaluation, and glorie, and honour, and power vnto the Lord our God:

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 19:1, column 2:

An exclamation used in songs of praise or thanksgiving to God.

Hallelujah! It’s finally the weekend!

(by extension) A general expression of gratitude or adoration.


ag

Borrowed from Afrikaans ag, from Dutch ach.

Ag pleez Deddy won't you take us to the wrestling / We wanna see an ou called Sky High Lee

1962, Jeremy Taylor (lyrics and music), “Ag Pleez Deddy”:

‘Ag, fuck it,’ he said. ‘Let bygones be bygones, man.’

1979, André Brink, A Dry White Season, Vintage, published 1998, page 88:

Finally, after placing four books on the desk, he turned to a sheepish Kathy and said, ‘Ag, there's nothing wrong with these desks,’ and walked out.

1994, Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela, London: Abacus, published 2010, page 491:

(South Africa) Expressing annoyance, remorse, surprise etc.; oh, ah.


ag

From Dutch ach. Equivalent of German ach and English oh.


uncle

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂éwh₂os
Latin avunculus
Old French unclebor.
Middle English uncle
English uncle
From Middle English uncle, borrowed from Anglo-Norman uncle and Old French oncle, from Vulgar Latin *aunclum, from Latin avunculus (“maternal uncle”, literally “little grandfather”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂euh₂-n-tlo- (“little grandfather”), a dialectal diminutive of *h₂éwh₂ō (“grandfather, adult male relative other than one’s father”) (whence also Latin avus (“grandfather”)). Displaced native Middle English em (“uncle”) from Old English ēam (“maternal uncle”), containing the same Proto-Indo-European root, and Old English fædera (“paternal uncle”). Compare Saterland Frisian Unkel (“uncle”), Dutch nonkel (“uncle”), German Low German Unkel (“uncle”), German Onkel (“uncle”), Danish onkel (“uncle”). More at eam and eame.


bam

The wind knocked the tree over last night. Bam! It nearly scared me to death.

We all looked up from the maps, silent, and listened to the hurried footsteps in the entryway. They padded up the red carpet, bam-bam-bam, and across the landing and then up the next flight at a gallop, bam-bam-bam.

2007, Joe Biden, Promises to Keep, New York: Random House, published 2008, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 266:

Representing a loud noise or heavy impact.

She said she dumped him. Now — bam! — they're back together.

Representing a sudden or abrupt occurrence.


bam

dong, ding dong (used when imitating a clock or watch)


MB

(Internet slang, text messaging) Initialism of my bad.


brother

PIE word
 *bʰréh₂tēr
Inherited from Middle English brother, from Old English brōþor, from Proto-West Germanic *brōþer, from Proto-Germanic *brōþēr, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰréh₂tēr. Doublet of bhai, frater, friar, and pal.

We're being forced to work overtime? Oh, brother!


om

From Sanskrit ओं (oṃ) or औं (auṃ) or ॐ (oṃ). Cognate with Balinese ᬒᬁ.

(Hinduism, Buddhism) om: a sacred, mystical syllable used in prayer and meditation.


grazie

Plural of grazia (“grace”), from Latin gratia, as used in the phrase grātiās agō (“I thank; I express thanks”). Akin to Italian grazie.


grazie

Plural of grazia (“grace”), from Latin grātia, as used in the phrase grātiās agō (“to thank; to express thanks”). Compare Spanish gracias.

Grazie di essere venuti!


yes

From Middle English yes, from Old English ġīese (“by all means, of course, yes”), derived from the same root as yea.

ya

expression of pleasure, joy or great excitement — see also yay

Our second goal of the match! Yes!

An exclamation of pleasure or approval, usually transcribed with an exclamation point.

Response that confirms that the user is paying attention.

vâng

response that asks for more information about a request

I need some help.
Yes?

(interrogative) Used to ask for more information with a request.


yes

(colloquial) Expression of triumph, vehement approval, etc.


yes

(colloquial) yay (exclamation of happiness or enthusiasm)


yes

(chiefly North America, colloquial) yes!


yes

Yes, det stämmer

Yes! Där satt den! Rätt upp i krysset.
Yes! Nailed it! ["There (just now) it sat!" (where I wanted it – the goal in this case – also used more abstractly for "You've got it!" and the like) – colloquial] Straight into the top corner.


yes

yes (used to express pleasure, joy, or great excitement)


kurwa

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *kury, from Proto-Indo-European *kéh₂ros (“loved”), from *keh₂-. Cognate with Latin cārus, Latvian kārs. For semantic development, compare English whore.

Kurwa, mówiłem, żebyś tego nie ruszał!

Do każdej pierdółki potrzebna jest zgoda kierownika? To już jest, kurwa, jakiś absurd.

You need the manager's approval even for the most trivial shit? That's just fucking absurd.

Tomasz, kurwa, zamknij kibel!


おおい

1924, 宮沢賢治, 注文の多い料理店, 青空文庫:

二人は俄かに元気がついて「おおい、おおい、ここだぞ、早く来い。」と叫びました。

Futari wa niwaka ni genki ga tsuite “Ōi, ōi, koko da zo, hayaku koi.” to sakebimashita.

The two suddenly cheered up and yelled, “Hey, hey, we’re over here! Come quick!”

Used to attract the attention of someone far away: hey, ahoy


gracias

/ˈɡɹɑ.θi.əs/

Borrowed from Spanish gracias (“thank you”).

bor+

Muchos gracias, my friend. —The girls are in the kitchen, Bimbo told Vera.

"Gracias, my friend. I owe you a great debt.

“No, gracias, my friend. This will do fine.”

2010, Tina Rosenberg, Glenapp Castle: A Scottish Intrigue, page 154:


gracias

From gracia < Latin grātia, as used in the phrase gratias agere (“to express thanks”).


bai

(Internet slang) Eye dialect spelling of bye.


no pasarán

English: no pasarán

Russian: но пасара́н (no pasarán)

“El bloque involucionista ha fracasado. Son más los españoles que quieren que España avance y así va a seguir siendo”, gritó un Pedro Sánchez eufórico mientras las bases del PSOE gritaban “¡No pasarán!” en la puerta de su sede.

2023 July 24, Carlos E. Cué, quoting Pedro Sánchez, “La resistencia del PSOE y Sumar frustra la mayoría del PP y Vox y deja abiertas todas las posibilidades”, in El País:

“The reactionary bloc has failed. There are more Spaniards who want Spain to move forward and so it will continue to be,” shouted a euphoric Pedro Sánchez as the rank and file of the PSOE shouted “They shall not pass!” at the door of their headquarters.

they shall not pass (expressing determination to defend a position)


その

⟨so₂ no₂⟩ → */sənə/ → /sono/
From Old Japanese そ, distal demonstrative root, with の (no) added to form the ordinary adnominal form 'that', as in 'that word', as opposed to the pronoun それ (sore).

(used as filler during conversation) uh, umm, er


hi

American English. First recorded reference is to speech of a Kansas Indian (1862); originally to attract attention, probably a variant of Middle English hey, hy (circa 1475). Also an exclamation to call attention. See hey.

Hi, how are you?

I just dropped by to say “hi”.

Anna: Pete, hi! Hi, we are here! — Pete: Hi, Anna! Hi, Marsha! — Anna: Hi! — Pete: How are you two? — Marsha: I am great!
Audio (US): (file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

When out on the prairie, up galloped an Indian on his pony with his saluting "hi!"

1862, Miriam Davis Colt, Went to Kansas, L. Ingalls & Company, →ISBN, page 143:

A friendly, informal, casual greeting said upon someone's arrival.

chào (depending on the relationship between speaker and person addressed, one of the following terms may be appended: ông, bà, cô, anh, chị, em, quí vị)

I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.

1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

'Come back now!' shouted Sam. 'Hi! Come back!' But Gollum had vanished.


hi

Borrowed from English hi, from 1990s digitalization.


それ

Compound of そ (so, “that”, medial reference marker) + れ (-re, specific pronoun referent marker).

suffix

Used to call someone's attention to something; there!, look!

Used to stir someone to action or fire oneself up; go on!, let's go!, right!, here goes!, come on!


あの

Originally a compound of あ (a, distal pronominal marker) + の (no, genitive particle).

com

similar to English er or umm, said when hesitating in speech

あの…そうですね、…

similar to English uh, space filler or pause during conversation


mea culpa

From the Latin phrase meā culpā (“through my fault”), ablative case of mea culpa (“my fault, guilt”), taken from the Confiteor, a traditional penitential prayer in Western Christianity.

My fault, due to my error; I am to blame.


mea culpa

From the Latin phrase meā culpā (“through my fault”), from mea (“my, mine”) and culpa (“fault”) in the ablative.


ai

Compare Estonian ai, Ingrian ai, Karelian ai, Ludian ai, Veps ai, Votic ai, and Swedish aj, Norwegian aj, Latvian aj. Perhaps natural; tracing an origin is practically impossible.

Ai, se olitkin sinä!

"Käytkö kaupassa?" "Ai, ruokakaupassa?"

"Will you go to the shop?" "Oh, the food shop?"

(colloquial, interrogative particle) Oh? As in...?


ai

From Old Galician-Portuguese ay (attested since the 13ᵗʰ century).

Ai tontiño, porque iñoras
o qu’he mantér casa e vida,
que por ben que estea sortida,
hai faltas a todas horas.
O segundo, que teu pai
pensa com’home de ben,
e así por vergonza ten
unha nora que non trai.
Orasme, sobr’esto hai,
que a dous parizós que teña,
non tendes donde vos veña,
cando ela non colla un mal.

1812, Antonio Benito Fandiño, A Casamenteira:

Oh, silly, because you don't know
what it is to keep house and life,
no matter how well stocked it is,
there's lack at all hours.
Second, your father
thinks like a good man,
and to his shame he has
a daughter-in-law who doesn't bear.
However, on this matter,
with just two childbirths that she has,
you'll be left resourceless,
and that if she doesn't get sick.


ai

Ultimately a natural sound. Compare Finnish ai and Estonian ai.

ai voi

Exclamation of pain or frustration: ouch! oh!


ai

ow!, ah!, (expresses pain, fear or surprise)

oi!, hey! (used to attract someone's attention)


ai

Ai! Pisei um prego!


haj

alas (used to express sorrow, regret, compassion or grief)


haj

desc

→⇒ Lower Sorbian: (pejorative) hajak (“Upper Sorbian person”)


night

From Middle English nighte, night, nyght, niȝt, naht, from Old English niht, from Proto-West Germanic *naht (“night”), from Proto-Germanic *nahts (“night”), from Proto-Indo-European *nókʷts (“night”).
Cognate with Scots nicht, neicht (“night”), West Frisian nacht (“night”), Dutch nacht (“night”), Low German Nacht (“night”), German Nacht (“night”), Danish nat (“night”), Swedish and Norwegian natt (“night”), Faroese nátt (“night”), Icelandic nótt (“night”), Gothic 𐌽𐌰𐌷𐍄𐍃 (nahts, “night”), Greek νύχτα (nýchta, “night”), Russian ночь (nočʹ, “night”), Sanskrit नक्त (naktá), नक्ति (nákti, “night”), and Latin nox (“night”), whence English nox, a doublet.

Night, y'all! Thanks for a great evening!


servus

An ellipsis from the commoners’ greeting once said to feudal lords, "servus humillimus [, Domine spectabilis]", in Latin meaning "(I am your) most humble servant[, (O/my) noble lord]".


servus

The greeting evolved by the commoners greeting their lords with the words servus humillimus, Domine spectabilis, meaning your humble servant, my noble lord. No subservience is implied in its modern use.

(colloquial) cheerio, bye, so long, ta-ta


servus

(chiefly Southern Germany, Austria, informal) hello, hi

(chiefly Southern Germany, Austria, informal) goodbye, bye, farewell


servus

(archaic) Alternative form of szervusz: hello; goodbye


servus

term-label

(informal, Transylvania, Maramureș, Bukovina)

Borrowed from German servus. Greeting found throughout the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.


servus

From German servus, ultimately from Latin servus.


あれ

Chinese:

→ Mandarin: 啊咧

あれ？ない。

あれ？もしかして……

huh? (expression of surprise and confusion when talking to yourself)


moro

Likely from Swedish morgon, morron (compare Swedish god morgon).

Hello, hi (used when meeting, sometimes when parting).


loco

(vulgar) A term of abuse that expressing dismay or discontent.


how

From a Siouan language; compare Lakota háu. Alternatively from Wyandot haau.

A greeting, used in representations of Native American speech.


bee

(childish) a word expressing bragging and mockery between children


bee

onomatopoeic

imitative

nec multo secus nostri ab eadem voce, sed ab alia litera. vox earum non me, sed bee sonare videtur.

116 BCE – 27 BCE, Marcus Terentius Varro, Agricultural Topics 2.1.7, (The spelling "be" is also read in this passage)


peace

From Middle English pees, pes, pais, borrowed from Anglo-Norman peis and Old French pais (“peace”), from Latin pāx (“peace”), from Proto-Indo-European *peh₂ḱ- (“to fasten, stick, place”), related to Latin pacīscor (“agree, stipulate”), Latin pangō (“fasten, fix”); see pact. Displaced native Old English sibb and friþ.

der

“Hark!” said the old woman, triumphantly. “I hear a step coming. […] Do you hear him?”
“I believe you are right, mother,” replied Alice, in a low voice. “Peace! open the door.”

1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

"Peace, my lord, thou utterest treason! Hast forgot the king's command? Remember I am party to thy crime, if I but listen."

1882, Mark Twain, chapter 6, in The Prince and the Pauper:

(archaic) Shut up!, silence!; be quiet, be silent.


そう

sō (romanization)
sau (romanization)
さう (hiragana historical)

Japanese phrasebook
 This entry is part of the phrasebook project, which presents criteria for inclusion based on utility, simplicity and commonness.
/sau/ → /sɔː/ → /soː/

phrasebook

1987 March 20 [1987 February 20], Fujiko Fujio, “テレパ椎(しい) [Telepathinkapin]”, in カンビュセスの籤(くじ) [Cambyses’s Drawing] (藤子不二雄 ＳＦ全短編; 1), 2nd edition, volume 1 (fiction), Tokyo: Chuokoronsha, →ISBN, 第二章, page 386:

We are bosom buddies! Yes, we are.
 Yes, we are. Yes, we are.

おれたちや親友だな！そうだな
そうだ そうだ

Ore-tachi ya shin'yū da na! Sō da na
 Sō da Sō da

yes, yeah; it's like that; that's how it is; I see. (interjection to show that the speaker is paying attention)


goodbye

Japanese: グッドバイ (guddobai), グッバイ (gubbai)

Afrikaans: koebaai (informal), baai (informal)

From earlier goodby, Godby, Godby'e, Godbwye, God b'w'y, God bwy yee, God buy you, God be wi' you, each a progressively shorter contraction of "God be with ye" or "God be with you". Note the change of God to good by confusion with good morning, good night, etc. Modernly analysed as good + bye.

Goodbye! - Goodbye, Anna.
Audio (US): (file)

Farewell; a formula used to another person or persons when the speaker, writer, or person addressed is departing.

hei konā rā

said by the person leaving to the person staying or to those remaining behind

noho iho rā

said by person leaving to the person staying

haere rā

said by person staying to the person leaving or to those leaving

אַ גוטן

used by the first person to say good-bye; used all day until nightfall

אַ גוט יאָר

used in response to a good-bye; used all morning, day, and evening


to

Meu señor santo Tomé,
tendes dous nomes nun só,
sodes castrón polo mé,
é sodes cán polo tó.

1820, B. A. Fandiño, El Heráclito Español y Demócrito Gallego:

My good sir Santo Tomé:
You have two names in just one,
You are a ram with the "mé"
And a dog with the "tó"

interjection used to call dogs or cattle


saya

From Malay saya, from earlier sahaya, from Sanskrit सहाय (sahāya).

(polite) Response that confirms that the speaker is paying attention: yes

poetic.Notes:This table only shows some personal pronouns that are commonly used in the standard language.The second person pronouns is avoided when speaking politely in casual contexts

older.Not including the clitic pronouns.See Appendix:Indonesian personal pronouns for more information.


al

Al! Aqqoq aqda/aqma!

Al, zaqqul al!


zoom

Uncertain. The verb was attested in 1892, noun in 1918 and interjection in 1942. Apparently related to Scots soom (“to buzz, hum”), dialectal English and Scots soom, swoom, sweem (“to spin or twirl at high speed”). Compare also dialectal English sweem (“to swoon, become dizzy or faint”).

m+

Makowsky was playing the Bassgeige. Zoom... zoom-zoom.... The rest of the orchestra would join in presently.

1918, Annie Vivanti Chartres, The Outrage, page 196:

I would dance a few light fantastic steps to show which way the wind lay, and zoom! Like a breeze I was on the piano stool and doing a velocity exercise.

1939, Henry Miller, Tropic of Capricorn, Grove Press, published 1962, page 244:

Suggesting a sudden change, especially an improvement or an increase


boy

Etymology tree
Proto-West Germanic *bōjō
Old English *bōia
Middle English boye
English boy
From Middle English boy／boye (“servant, commoner, knave, boy”), from Old English *bōia (“boy”), from Proto-West Germanic *bōjō, from Proto-Germanic *bōjô (“younger brother, young male relation”), from Proto-Germanic *bō- (“brother, close male relation”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰā-, *bʰāt- (“father, elder brother, brother”).
Cognate with Scots boy (“boy”), West Frisian boai (“boy”), Dutch boi (“boy”), Low German Boi (“boy”), and probably to the Old English proper name Bōia. Also related to West Flemish boe (“brother”), Norwegian dialectal boa (“brother”), Dutch boef (“rogue, knave”), Bavarian Bua (“young boy, lad”), German Bube ("boy; knave; jack"; > English bub), Icelandic bófi (“rogue, crook, bandit, knave”). See also bully.

gloss

"boy; knave; jack"; > English <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">bub</i>

cog

Boy, that was close!

Boy, that tastes good!

Boy, I wish I could go to Canada!

Time is running out, so I renounce a spin on a Class 387 for a fast run to Paddington on another Class 800 - a shame as the weather was perfect for pictures. Even so, it's enjoyable - boy, can those trains shift under the wires.

2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68:

Exclamation of surprise, pleasure or longing.


gangway

From Middle English gangway, from Old English gangweġ (“passageway; thoroughfare”), equivalent to gang + way. Related to Dutch gang (“hallway”) and Norwegian gang (“hallway”).

inh

And he pushed his way through the crowd crying, "Gangway, gangway!" and dragging Jane and Michael after him.

1934, P[amela] L[yndon] Travers, “Full Moon”, in Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins; 1), London: Gerald Howe Ltd […], →OCLC, page 157:

доро́га

дорогу! dorógu!


thank you very much

Said to express greater gratitude than would be conveyed by thank you.

hvala najljepša

can also be used provokingly with sarcasm

najljepša Vam hvala

addressing a person formally with respect

cám ơn nhiều

ông, bà, cô, anh, chị, em, quí vị – depending on subject of gratitude

cảm ơn nhiều (ông, bà, cô, anh, chị, em, quí vị)

Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

1997 June 26, J. K. Rowling [pseudonym; Joanne Rowling], “The Boy Who Lived”, in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Harry Potter; 1), London: Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN:

(sarcastic) Expressing indignation that anyone could doubt the preceding statement.


man

From Middle English man, from Old English mann m (“human being, person, man”), from Proto-West Germanic *mann, from Proto-Germanic *mann- m, from Proto-Indo-European *mon- (“human being, man”). Doublet of Manu.

mang

dialectal rendering, suggesting a Spanish accent

mane

dialectal rendering, suggesting an AAVE accent

mon

used in the vocative, in places such as Jamaica and Shropshire in England

Man, that was a great catch!

The 19 meandering minutes of Dark Star are attractive enough but, man, they go on, while poor Creedence Clearwater Revival – headliners, with Bad Moon Rising still in the charts – are watching the clock tick in the wings.

2019 August 15, Bob Stanley, “'Groovy, groovy, groovy': listening to Woodstock 50 years on – all 38 discs”, in The Guardian:

For quotations using this term, see Citations:man.

Used to place emphasis upon something or someone; sometimes, but not always, when actually addressing a man.

чове́к

an interjection used to place emphasis upon something or someone


man

From Middle Dutch man, from Old Dutch man, from Proto-West Germanic *mann, from Proto-Germanic *mann-.

Man, is me dat schrikken.

Indicates that something is larger/stronger/... than usual.


hear

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ-
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew-
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti
Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną
Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan
Old English hīeran
Middle English heren
English hear
From Middle English heren, from Old English hīeran (“to hear”), from Proto-West Germanic *hauʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *hauzijaną (“to hear”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti (“to be sharp-eared”), from *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”) + *h₂ows- (“ear”) + *-yéti (denominative suffix).
Cognates
Cognate with Saterland Frisian heere (“to hear”), West Frisian hearre (“to hear”), Dutch horen (“to hear”), German hören (“to hear”), Danish and Norwegian Bokmål høre (“to hear”), Norwegian Nynorsk høyra (“to hear”), Icelandic heyra (“to hear”), Ancient Greek ἀκούω (akoúō, “I hear”).

inh

Y'all come back now, hear?

1995, HAL Laboratory, EarthBound, Nintendo, Super Nintendo Entertainment System:


twit

Midnights bell goes ting, ting, ting, ting, ting, / Then dogs doe hovvle, and not a bird does ſing: / But the Nightingale, and ſhe cries tvvit, tvvit, tvvit, tvvit, / Ovvles then on euerie bovve doe ſit.

1601–1602 (date written), attributed to Thomas Dekker and/or Thomas Middleton, Blurt Master-Constable. Or The Spaniards Night-walke. […], London: […] [Edward Allde] for Henry Rockytt, […], published 1602, →OCLC, signature F3, recto:

Twit twit twit / Jug jug jug jug jug jug / So rudely forc'd. / Tereu

1922 October, T[homas] S[tearns] Eliot, “Part III. The Fire Sermon.”, in The Waste Land, 1st book edition, New York, N.Y.: Boni and Liveright, published December 1922, →OCLC, page 30, lines 203–206:

(onomatopoeia) Used to represent the short, high-pitched call of a small bird, or a similar sound made by something else: cheep, tweet.


tin

(Quebec, colloquial) (surprise, giving someone something) alternative form of tiens


ia

Ia, itulah jawapan saya.


ia

Perhaps from one of several similar words in neighboring languages, or perhaps from iacă. Alternatively, perhaps a spontaneous creation of expression.

used to attract attention to the speaker; well, now, now then


ia

From Proto-Polynesian *ia. Cognates include Maori ia and Samoan ia.

Used to introduce a new topic; so, anyway


ia

Proto-Nuclear Polynesian:

Proto-Eastern Polynesian:

Tahitic

Maori: ia

Samoic-Outlier

Ellicean

Tuvaluan: ia

Samoic

Samoan: ia

Tokelauan: ia

From Proto-Oceanic [Term?], from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian [Term?], from Proto-Austronesian *qia.


loose

From Middle English loos, los, lous, from Old Norse lauss, from Proto-Germanic *lausaz, whence also -less, leasing; from Proto-Indo-European *lewH-, *lū- (“to untie, set free, separate”), whence also lyo-, -lysis, via Ancient Greek.

(archery) begin shooting; release your arrows


hot

Uncertain. Probably onomatopoeic. Compare Polish hetta.

Coordinate term: čehý


hot

(Kuyavia) used to direct a horse to the right


hot

(Western Greater Poland) Alternative form of ot


re

re, tās ir mājas, kur piedzimu

look, that is the house where I was born

re, kā ceriņi saglaudušies ap mājām un žogiem

look how the lilacs have become smooth around the houses and fences

re, cik klusu un nemanot mana māmuļa sirmo

look how quietly, without being noticed, my mom became older (literally, “grayer)”)

look! see? (used to draw the listener's attention to something visible)

malkas virtuvē nav; tad re, kāpēc māte vakar nekurināja

there is no wood in the kitchen; here is why mother did not start the heating yesterday

re, Mārtiņ, kā iet mūsu dzīvīte

see, Martin, how our little life is going?...

bet strazds, re, dzied par Ēģipti pie būra tavā priedē

but the sterling, see, he is singing about Egypt at the cage in your pine tree

look, here is..., you see (used to draw the listener's attention to, or to emphasize, something said or written)


enough

From Middle English ynogh, from Old English ġenōg (“enough”), from Proto-Germanic *ganōgaz (“enough”) (compare Scots eneuch, West Frisian genôch, Dutch genoeg, German genug, Low German noog, Danish nok, Swedish nog, Icelandic nógur), from *ganuganą 'to suffice' (compare Old English ġeneah), or from *ga- + an unattested *nōgaz, probably ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eh₂nó(n)ḱe (“he has reached, attained”), perfective of *h₂neḱ- (“to reach”) (compare Old Irish tánaic (“he arrived”), Latin nancisci (“to get”), Albanian kënaq (“to please, satisfy”)}.).

der

I'm sick of you complaining! Enough!


dia

yah!, cry to make (a) working animal(s) etc. advance or turn left


leche

(vulgar, offensive) Alternative spelling of letse


leche

Inherited from Old Spanish leche, from an earlier *leite < *laite, from Late Latin lactem m or f, from Latin lac n, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵlákts. Compare Galician and Portuguese leite m and French lait m.


sale

From salir. For the interjection, sale is part of a former rhyming phrase, sale y vale; see valer.


cling

Imitative of a high-pitched ringing sound.


good

Inherited from Middle English good, from Old English gōd, from Proto-West Germanic *gōd, from Proto-Germanic *gōdaz, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰedʰ- (“to unite, be associated, suit”).
Cognate with Russian го́дный (gódnyj, “fit, well-suited, good for; (coll.) good”), год (god), "year", via "suitable time".
Related to gather and together, but not to god/God.
Eclipsed non-native Middle English bon, bone, boon, boun (“good”) borrowed from Old French bon (“good”), from Latin bonus (“good”).

cog

Good! I can leave now.

That is good; an elliptical exclamation of satisfaction or commendation.


right

From Middle English right, righte, from Old English rihte, rehte (“right; rightly; due; directly; straight”), from Proto-Germanic *rehta, from *rehtaz (“right; straight”).

Sam Tyler: Look, look, you know when I said I wasn't wrong? Well, I was. But I was right about this not being the IRA. I was right to follow my instincts. Like you said, go with your gut feeling. I'm just taking your lead.
Gene Hunt: So I'm right.
Sam Tyler: We both are.
Gene Hunt: Right.
Sam Tyler: Right.
Gene Hunt: Just as long as I'm more right than you.

2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3:

Tell her you’re here.
Right. Thanks, Pete.
Audio (US): (file)

2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)

— United's the best team in the country.
— Right. And they'll go all the way for sure.
— Damn right they will.

— United's the best team in the country, so they'll come up with something.
— Right. And do you think they'll go all the way?

en:acknowledging the other's utterance, independently of agreement

I have listened to what you just said and I acknowledge your assertion or opinion, regardless of whether I agree with it (opinion) or can verify it (assertion).

— After that interview, I don't think we should hire her.
— Right. Who wants lunch?

Signpost word to change the subject in a discussion or discourse.

You're going, right?

I went downstairs, right, and I was going to call her, but I found this note, right, so what am I supposed to do now?

Used to check listener engagement and (especially) agreement at the end of an utterance or each segment thereof.

all right

confirming attention, understanding, and/or agreement

Withnail: Right […] I'm gonna do the washing up.

Used to add seriousness or decisiveness before a statement.

好吧

adding seriousness or decisiveness before a statement


horseshit

He says he'll pay up next week.
Horseshit!


codswallop

Codd-neck bottle
Galton and Simpson
Hancock's Half Hour
Hiram Codd

Unknown. Attested from a 1959 episode of the UK TV series Hancock's Half Hour. The writers (Galton and Simpson) state that the phrase was in general use when the show was broadcast. A national TV appeal in the UK in 2006 failed to find earlier references, though a humorous newspaper column from 1947 does use the fictional name "Sir Aubrey Codswallop". Originally written (1963) codswallop; the spelling cod's wallop is later.
Various etymologies are proposed from some sense of cod, such as from cod (“joke, imitation”) + -s- + wallop (“beer”) (slang), hence “imitation beer” (with interconsonantal -s- to ease pronunciation of -dw-), or from cod (“scrotum, as in codpiece”) + -s- + wallop (“to hit”), hence “to hit (with) the testicle bag,” or from cod (“fish”), hence perhaps some part of the fish, as used in the fishing industry.
A frequently given etymology, although widely rejected as a folk etymology, derives it from Hiram Codd, British soft drink maker of the 1870s, known for the eponymous Codd-neck bottle, with the suggestion that codswallop is a derisive term for soft drinks by beer drinkers, from Codd’s + wallop (“beer”), thus sarcastically “Codd’s beer”. There is no evidence that early uses had this sense; the slang term wallop (“beer”) appeared after Codd’s lifetime, initial spellings (in print from 1963) do not reflect such a derivation (*Codd’s wallop and *coddswallop with -dd- are not found), and there is an 80-year gap between the proposed coinage and attestation.
This is also the name given to the wooden device placed over the neck of a codd bottle and given a push (wallop) to dislodge the marble in the neck of the bottle. The word has also been used to describe the process of opening a codd bottle.

af

scrotum, as in <i class="Latn mention" lang="en">codpiece</i>

(UK, Ireland, Commonwealth, slang) Used to express disbelief: nonsense!; rubbish!


not

From Middle English not, nat, variant of noght, naht (“not, nothing”), from Old English *nōht, nāht (“nought, nothing”), short for nōwiht, nāwiht (“nothing”, literally “not anything”), corresponding to ne (“not”) + ōwiht, āwiht (“anything”), corresponding to ā (“ever, always”) + wiht (“thing, creature”).
Cognate with Scots nat, naucht (“not”), Saterland Frisian nit (“not”), West Frisian net (“not”), Dutch niet (“not”), German nicht (“not”). Compare nought, naught and aught. More at no, wight, whit.

I really like hanging out with my little brother watching Barney … not!

Sure, you’re perfect the way you are … not!

You've got a swell chance to make this [baseball] team, you have, not! Third base is my job, Freshie. Why, you tow-head, you couldn't play marbles. You butter-finger, can't you stop anything?

1911 March, Zane Grey, “Out on the Field”, in The Young Pitcher, New York, N.Y.: Grosset & Dunlap, →OCLC, page 64:

"See?" "Uh-huh! Clear and lucid to the point of limpidity - 'not."

1949, E.E 'Doc' Smith, chapter XIV, in Skylark of Valeron, London: Panther, published 1974, page 134:

Because, of course, sympathy is finite -- and if you use it up on the wrong person then you won't have any left. Not.

2006 May 2, Steve Goldfarb, “Spilling out drops of wine at the Seder”, in soc.culture.jewish.moderated (Usenet):

(slang) Used to indicate that the previous phrase was meant sarcastically or ironically.


draw

From Middle English drawen, draȝen, dragen (“to drag, pull, push, draw (out), go to, make, add, etc.”), from Old English dragan, from Proto-West Germanic *dragan, from Proto-Germanic *draganą, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- (“to draw, pull”). Doublet of drag and draught.
cognates
* Albanian dredh (“to turn, spin”)
* Danish drage
* Dutch dragen
* German tragen (“to carry”)
* Old Armenian դառնամ (daṙnam, “to turn”)
* Sanskrit ध्रजस् (dhrájas, “gliding course or motion”)
* West Frisian drage

cog

(archery) Pull back your bowstring in preparation to shoot.


behold

From Middle English beholden, from Old English behealdan (“to hold, have, occupy, possess, guard, preserve, contain, belong, keep, observe, consider, behold, look at, gaze on, see, signify, avail, effect, take care, beware, be cautious, restrain, act, behave”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaldan (“to hold with, keep”), equivalent to be- + hold. Cognate with Saterland Frisian behoolde (“to keep”), Dutch behouden (“to keep, restrain, preserve”), German behalten (“to keep, restrain, remember”), Danish and Norwegian beholde (“to keep”) and Swedish behålla (“to keep”).


poop

Uncertain, possibly from Middle English poupen (“to make a gulping sound while drinking, blow on a horn, toot”). Compare Dutch poepen (“to defecate”), German Low German pupen (“to fart; break wind”). Also representing poo pronounced with the mouth snapped closed at the end.

cog

Poop. The copier's broken again.

I don't need him for a friend. I can have fun by myself! ... Poop.

1986 July 29, Bill Watterson, Calvin & Hobbes (comic):

(childish, euphemistic) Expressing annoyed disappointment.


alas

From Middle English alas, from Old French a las (French hélas), from a (“ah”) + las, from Latin lassus (“weary”). Compare Dutch helaas, North Frisian ielas, West Frisian eilaas.

I wanted to catch the last bus home, but alas, I was ten minutes late and had to take a taxi instead.

Helas I lamente the dull abuſyd brayne
The enfatuate fantaſies the wytles wylfulnes
Of on and hothyr at me that haue dyſdayne

Alas poore Yorick, I knew him Horatio, a fellow of infinite Ieſt; of moſt excellent fancy, he hath borne me on his backe a thouſand times: And how abhorred my Imagination is, my gorge riſes at it.

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 278, column 1:

Standing afarre off for the feare of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great citie Babylon, that mighty citie: for in one houre is thy iudgement come.

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Revelation 18:10:

The thorough and shameless commercialism of Sex has alas! been reserved for what is called "Christian civilization," and with it (perhaps as a necessary consequence) Prostitution and Syphilis have grown into appalling evils, accompanied by a gigantic degradation of social standards, and upgrowth of petty Philistinism and niaiserie.

1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds, New York: Harcourt, Brace and Co., published 1921, page 188:

Used to express sorrow, regret, compassion, grief, resignation, or disappointment.


alas

From Proto-Finnic *alas. Equivalent to ala- (“lower, under”) + -s (s-lative singular).

suffix

Alas rikolliset!

(followed by a nominative) down with (e.g. in demonstrations)


alas

English: alas

Alas ſeyde quene Gwenyu[er] now ar we myſcheved bothe //

1470–1483 (date produced), Thom̃s Malleorre [i.e., Thomas Malory], “[Morte Arthur]”, in Le Morte Darthur (British Library Additional Manuscript 59678), [England: s.n.], folio 451, verso, lines 13–14:

“Alas!” said Queen Guinevere, “now are we mischieved both!”


くん

(onomatopoeia) Representing a sniffing sound.


done

From Middle English don, idon, ȝedon, gedon, from Old English dōn, ġedōn, from Proto-West Germanic *dān, from Proto-Germanic *dēnaz (past participle of *dōną (“to do”)). Equivalent to do + -en (past participle ending). Cognate with Scots dune, deen, dene, dane (“done”), Saterland Frisian däin (“done”), West Frisian dien (“done”), Dutch gedaan (“done”), German Low German daan (“done”), German getan (“done”). More at do.

en<id:past participle><pos:past participle ending>

Expresses that a task has been completed.

fini

expresses that a task has been completed

Riker: Would you be interested in selling me the ore you're carrying? / Yog: No. I have a buyer. / Riker: You haven't heard my offer. Half a gram of Anjoran biomimetic gel. / Yog: Done.

1994, René Echevarria, “Firstborn”, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 7, episode 21, Jonathan Frakes and Joel Swetow (actors):

Expresses agreement to and conclusion of a proposal, a set of terms, a sale, a request, etc.


hier

From Middle High German hier, from Old High German hier, from Proto-West Germanic *hēr. Cognate with Dutch hier, English here, Swedish här.
The predominant form in Middle High German and throughout modern dialects of High German is hie (and variants) with loss of the final -r. The form hier begins to gain ground from the late 16th century (in spite of Luther’s usage), which may point to influence by cognate Middle Low German hīr, hēr (where no r-less form seems to exist; but compare modern Limburgish heej).

Hier, der Markus ist doch jetzt auch verheiratet, ne?

Hey, wait, Markus is married now, too, isn't he?

(colloquial) Used for emphasis or to call for attention, often when changing the subject


this

From Middle English this, from Old English þis (neuter demonstrative), from North Sea Germanic base *þa- "that", from Proto-Germanic *þat, from Proto-Indo-European *tód, extended form of demonstrative base *to-; + North-West Germanic definitive suffix -s, from Proto-Indo-European *só (“this, that”).
Cognate with Scots this (“this”), Saterland Frisian dusse (“this”), West Frisian dizze (“this”), German dies, dieses (“this”), Old Gutnish þissi (“this”).

― I wish trolls could be banned from the forum immediately, without any discussion.
― This!

(Internet slang) Indicates the speaker's strong approval or agreement with the previous material.


this

the sound a cat makes when preparing to attack something


hay

Hay... Antok na ako!

an expression of fatigue, exhaustion, grief, sorrow, frustration, or the like: sigh


dada

Zeg dada aan oma.


so

From Middle English so, swo, zuo, swa, swe, from Old English swā, swǣ, swē (“so, as, the same, such, that”), from Proto-West Germanic *swā, from Proto-Germanic *swa, *swē (“so”), from Proto-Indo-European *swē, *swō (reflexive pronomial stem). Cognate with Scots sae (“so”), Saterland Frisian so (“so”), West Frisian sa (“so”), Dutch zo (“so”), German Low German so (“so”), German so (“so”), Danish så (“so”), Norwegian Nynorsk so (“so”), Swedish så (“so, such that”), Faroese so (“so”), Icelandic svo (“so”), Old Latin suad (“so”), Albanian sa (“how much, so, as”), Ancient Greek ὡς (hōs, “as”), Urdu سو (sō, “hence”).

So, let's go home.

So, what'll you have?

So, there was this squirrel stuck in the chimney...

So, everyone wants to know – did you win the contest or not?

So, after a spell, he decided to make the best of it and shoved us into the front parlor. 'Twas a dismal sort of place, with hair wreaths, and wax fruit, and tin lambrekins, and land knows what all.

1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter XI, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

Used after a pause for thought to introduce a new topic, question or story, or a new thought or question in continuation of an existing topic.

إِذًا

interjection used to introduce a new topic

"You park your car in front of my house every morning." — "So?"

Used as a question to ask for further explanation of something said, often rhetorically or in a dismissive or impolite manner.

What are you doing? / So I'm just fixing this shelf.

What time does the train leave? / So it leaves at 10 o'clock.

Used as a meaningless filler word to begin a response to a question.

(archaic) Be as you are; stand still; used especially to cows; also used by sailors.


so

From Middle High German sō, from Old High German sō, from Proto-West Germanic *swā, from Proto-Germanic *swa, *swē, compare with Old Dutch so and Dutch zo.

So, das sind die Entscheidungen der größten Gelehrten über die doch nicht ganz unwichtige Frage, wie eine der Sprachen auszusprechen sei, in der jahraus jahrein in Deutschland gutgezählte 50 000 junge Menschenkinder unterrichtet werden.
Trotz jenen Entscheidungen ist natürlich noch lange nicht daran zu denken, daß dem Unfug einer als gänzlich falsch erkannten Aussprache des Griechischen ein Ende gesetzt wäre. Der Schlendrian wird auf diesem Gebiete des Schulwesens wohl ebenso lange dauern, wie auf vielen andern; denn bequem ist allerdings jener Schlendrian, nur wissenschaftlich ist er nicht, und unbrauchbar für das Leben ist er obendrein. Die Beseitigung des Schlendrians werde ich wohl nicht mehr erleben, auch dann nicht, wenn Plato selber aus der Asche auferstünde und die deutschen Schulmänner die richtige Aussprache lehrte. Sie würden ihm beweisen, daß er sich irre: er habe in den mehr als zwei Jahrtausenden seit seinem Tode gewiß die richtige Aussprache vergessen; sie aber, die deutschen Oberlehrer und Direktoren, kennten sie ganz genau: sie wäre buchstäblich so wie das Neuhochdeutsche des 20. Jahrhunderts gewesen.

1887, Eduard Engel, Griechische Frühlingstage, 4th, purer edition, Radebeul bei Dresden: Haupt & Hammon, published 1927, page 361:

So these are the reckonings of the greatest scholars about the not quite insignificant question how one of the languages which is taught to about 50 000 young lads per annum should be pronounced.
In spite of these reckonings by far it is not to think that this buffoonery of an utterly wrong pronunciation of Greek would come to an end. The litherness in this field of schooling will last as long as in many others; for convenient it is forsooth, but scientific it is not, and devoid of use for life ’tis on top. The elimination of this litherness I will not be an observer of in my lifetime, even if Plato himself were to rise from his ashes and teach the pedants the right pronunciation. They would shew him his being at fault: he surely has forgot the right pronunciation; but them, the senior and head teachers know it very well; it would be literally like the New High German of the 20th century.

discourse marker
discourse marker#English

(colloquial) a discourse marker in the beginning of a sentence indicating a topic having been dealt with and another being tackled


so

(US, Puerto Rico, Philippines, El Salvador) so


bring

onomatopoeic

Onomatopoeia


bullshit

(vulgar, slang) An expression of disbelief at what one has just heard.


hello

→ Amharic: ሀሎ (halo)

desc

→ Chinese: 哈嘍／哈喽 (hālou), 哈囉／哈啰 (hāluó), 哈囉／哈啰 (hāluó), 哈佬 (hālǎo)

→ Japanese: ハロー (harō)

→ Malay: helo

→ Scottish Gaelic: halò

Hello (first attested in 1826), from holla, hollo (attested 1588). This variant of hallo is often credited to Thomas Edison as a coinage for telephone use, but its appearance in print predates the invention of the telephone by several decades.
Ultimately from a variant of Old English ēalā, such as hēlā, which was used colloquially at the time similarly to how hey and (in some dialects) hi are used nowadays. Thus, equivalent to a compound of hey and lo. Used when drawing attention to yourself.
Possibly influenced by Old Saxon halo!, imperative of halōn (“to call, fetch”), used in hailing a ferryman, akin to Old High German hala, hola!, imperative forms of halōn, holōn (“to fetch”). More at hallo.
OED and Merriam-Webster also suggested that it is a variant of holla, a variant of holloo. Further beyond, the origin remains uncertain. OED and Merriam-Webster suggested that it has a connection between hallow (“to shout, to cry out loud”), which came from Old French holloer.
According to Altfranzösisches Wörterbuch, Old French holloer is from Old Saxon halon.

ܫܠܵܡܵܐ ܥܲܠܵܟ݂ܝ

šlāmā ˁallāḵ

ܫܠܵܡܵܐ ܥܲܠܵܘܟ݂ܘܿܢ

šlāmā ˁallāwḵōn

sveiki

informal to more than one person or people of indeterminate gender

nsellmulek

formal more than one person to one person

nsellmulkom

formal more than one person to more than one persons

dumelang

as in dumelang, borra, "hello gentlemen"

اَلسَّلامُ عَلَیکُم وَرَحْمَۃُاللہ وَبَرَکَاتُہ (as-salāmu 'alaikum va-rahmatu-llāh, literally “Peace be upon you & May Allah bless”)

Hello, everyone.

A greeting (salutation) said when meeting someone or acknowledging someone’s arrival or presence.

Hello? How may I help you?

Hello. This is Marsha. ― Yes, Marsha.
Audio (US): (file)

A greeting used when answering the telephone.

Hello? Is anyone there?

I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.

1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter VII, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y., London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:

A call for response if it is not clear if anyone is present or listening, or if a telephone conversation may have been disconnected.

You just tried to start your car with your cell phone. Hello?

(colloquial) Used sarcastically to imply that the person addressed has done something the speaker considers to be foolish, or missed something that should have been obvious.

Hello! What’s going on here?

(chiefly UK) An expression of puzzlement or discovery.

マジかよ

Are you sure?, You're kidding!, more informal


tak

Inherited from Old Czech tak from Proto-Slavic *tako.

Tak jděme!

jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá


tak

From Old Norse þǫkk, from Proto-Germanic *þankō, *þankaz, cognate with English thank, German Dank.


tak

Inherited from Old Polish tak. The “yes” sense is an ellipsis of tak jest; compare Italian sì.

Zrobiłeś to? - Tak.


he

(more common)

If e'er he went into excess, / 'Twas from a somewhat lively thirst; / But he who would his subjects bless, / Odd's fish!—must wet his whistle first; / And so from every cask they got, / Our king did to himself allot / At least a pot. / Sing ho, ho, ho! and he, he, he! / That's the kind of king for me.

1897, Charles Dudley Warner, Hamilton Wright Mabie, Charles Henry Warner, Lucia Isabella Gilbert Runkle, Library of the World's Best Literature: A-Z, page 1791:

"Well, what is your next tale?" said Sumner, a little brusquely. "He, he! he, he! . . . he, he!" chuckled the bottle, "the text tale I'm going to tell you in a very funny one. It will make you laugh. There's a lady in it—he, he!—a very comic affair."

1921, Norman Davey, The Pilgrim of a Smile, page 247:

(uncommon, usually reduplicated) An expression of laughter.