oy vey
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Meaning · English
oh dear
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Alternatively, some view "oy vey" as being entirely Yiddish (Judeo-German) in origin.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “oy vey” mean?
oh dear
Is “oy vey” formal or informal?
oy vey is generally slang.