interjection
ouch
OWCH/aʊtʃ/
An exclamation expressing sudden pain or discomfort.
Ouch! The hammer has struck my thumb!
Etymology
Pennsylvania German outch was itself a cry of pain. English preserves that immediate reaction to sudden hurt and also uses it more mildly to express distress.
In context
"Ouch!" Su Ye cried out in pain, looking at Song Yiran with a bewildered expression.
More examples
- "Ouch, you're stepping on my foot!"
- "Ouch!" she said when the needle went in.
- "You called my cooking terrible? Ouch!"
Similar words
- ow
- A similarly informal cry, usually prompted by physical pain.