ENGLISH
REFERENCE

och

interj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɑk// UK //ˈɒk// och

interj. a word used in Scottish English to show you are surprised, annoyed, or to get someone's attention. It is like saying 'oh' or 'hey' in other parts of the UK.

interj. an exclamation used in Scottish English to express surprise, annoyance, or to address someone. It functions as a vocative or an interjection to signal a shift in the speaker's emotional state.


SIMPLE

Och, I didn't know you were coming.

CONTEXTUAL

Och, look at that weather! We should have stayed home today.

COMPLEX

Och, I've had enough of this nonsense; we need to get back to the farm before the rain starts.

Origin

Compare Early Modern English och, Scottish Gaelic och, Irish och. Compare also Scots ach, Scots ouch.

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