Top 10 Interjections in Spanish

Quick Answer

Interjecciones(interjections) are special words we use to express emociones(emotions) such as sorpresa(surprise), alegría(joy), tristeza(sadness)! In this article, you'll learn 10 common interjections in Spanish and how to use them. Read on to find out more!

Questions This Article Answers

What are some common interjections in Spanish?

How do I say ouch in Spanish?

What's the meaning of ay?

Can I say wow in more than one way in Spanish?

1. Ay

This very common interjection can be translated as ow, ouch, oh, dear, or jeez.

It can be used to:

indicate pain, sadness, fear, annoyance, etc.

For example:

examples
¡Ay! ¡Acabas de pisarme el pie! Ow! You just stepped on my foot!
¡Ay! ¡Qué susto me diste! Jeez! You scared me!

2. Ah

This Spanish interjection can mean ah, oh, aw, what or eh.

It can be used to:

indicate sadness, admiration, or surprise.

examples
¡Ah! ¡Qué pena que no vengas! Ah! What a pity you're not coming!
¡Ah! ¡Ya entiendo lo que quieres decir! Oh! Now I get what you mean!

3. Oh

This very common interjection is normally translated as oh!

It can be used to:

indicate surprise, understanding, sadness, or happiness.

examples
¡Oh! ¡Qué sorpresa verte aquí! Oh! What a surprise to see you here!
¡Oh! ¡Mañana no tengo clases! Oh! I don't have class tomorrow!

4. Vaya

This Spanish interjection can mean well, wow, or oh no.

It can be used to:

indicate satisfaction, disappointment, or irony.

examples
¡Vaya, mira quién ha aparecido! Well, look who showed up!
¡Vaya! ¡Se me ha mojado el celular! Oh no! My cellphone got wet!

5. Eh

This very common interjection can mean eh, hey, um, uh, huh, OK, or what.

It can be used to:

indicate doubt, to disregard someone or something, to ask a question, to call someone's attention to something, to warn someone, or to tell somebody off.

examples
¿A qué hora nos vamos? Eh, no sé. ¿A las dos? At what time are we leaving? Um, I don't know. At two?
¿Quieres té o café? Eh, lo que tomes tú. Do you want tea or coffee? Eh, whatever you're drinking.

6. Ajá

This Spanish interjection can mean uh-huh, mmhmm, great, c'mon, or aha.

It can be used to:

indicate satisfaction, approval, or surprise.

examples
¿Quieres helado? ¡Ajá! Do you want ice cream? Uh-huh!
¡Ajá! ¿En serio corriste tan rápido la maratón? C'mon! Did you seriously run the marathon that fast?

7. Guau

This common interjection means wow.

It can be used to:

express admiration or enthusiasm.

examples
Este es mi auto nuevo. ¡Guau! ¡Se ve genial! This is my new car. Wow! It looks awesome!
¡Guau! ¿Limpiaste toda la casa? Wow! Did you clean the whole house?

8. Uy

This very common interjection can mean oh, wow, ow, ew, or ouch.

It can be used to:

indicate pain, shame, or surprise.

examples
¡Uy! ¡Me asustaste! Oh! You startled me.
¡Uy! Me dolió mucho esa inyección. Ow! That shot really hurt.

9. Uf

This interjection can mean phew, ugh, or oof, among other translations.

It can be used to:

express relief, annoyance, tiredness, or surprise.

examples
¡Uf! ¡Casi perdemos el vuelo! Phew! We almost missed the flight!
¡Uf! Que cansado estoy hoy. Oof! I'm so tired today.

10. Dale/Hala/Órale

For the last interjection on our list, we've provided three regionalisms that can mean wow, c'mon, go for it, OK, or do it.

Daleis used throughout Latin America.

Halais used in Spain.

Óraleis used in Mexico.

These three interjections can be used to:

indicate surprise, to cheer someone on, to rush someone, to call someone's attention, or to indicate agreement.

examples
¡Dale! ¡Tú puedes! Go for it! You can do it!
¡Hala! ¡Mira cuánta gente ha venido! Wow! Look at how many people have come!
¡Órale! ¡Échale ganitas, amiguito! C'mon! Get to it, buddy!