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ay

ouch, oh

interjection AH-ee Rare

Also means

alas

Usage Note

Ay expresses pain, surprise, grief, or tender emotion depending on context and intonation — 'ouch' when hurt, 'oh!' when startled, 'alas' when lamenting. It must not be confused with hay ('there is/are'), ahí ('there'), or allí ('over there'), all of which sound similar in rapid speech. The exclamation ¡Ay de mí! ('Woe is me!') and the song refrain ¡Ay, ay, ay! are widely known set expressions.

Examples

Ay, me duele el pie!"

Natural Translation

Ouch, my foot hurts!

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