Where does “oh” come from?
Oh comes from Middle English oo, Old English ān, Latin o, Proto-Indo-European óynos, and ultimately Proto-Indo-European úd, originally meaning water or moisture.
oh (English): Expression of surprise; Expression of wonder,...
Definitions
- Expression of surprise; Expression of wonder,...
Ancestry of “oh”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | o | Alternative form of oo |
| 2 | Old English | o | ever, always |
| 3 | Latin | o | The name of the letter "O"; o!; oh! |
| 4 | Etruscan | 𐌏 | — |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | ο | — |
| 6 | Phoenician | 𐤏 | ayin; ʿayin |
| 7 | Egyptian | 𓁹 | — |