oh
An exclamation that expresses surprise, amazement, realization, or a sudden reaction, depending on the situation.
EXAMPLE
Oh, das habe ich ganz vergessen!
Oh, I completely forgot about that!
oh
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Meanings
oh
An exclamation used to express regret, disappointment, or sympathy.
EXAMPLE
Oh, das tut mir leid zu hören.
Oh, I'm sorry to hear that.
oh
An exclamation used before addressing someone, making a request, or giving an instruction to add emphasis or an emotional tone.
EXAMPLE
Oh, bitte hilf mir schnell!
Oh, please help me quickly!
oh oh
uh-oh
An exclamation that expresses concern, doubt, or impending trouble.
EXAMPLE
Oh oh, das sieht gar nicht gut aus.
Uh-oh, that doesn't look good at all.
Usage tips
Sentence position
'Oh' (oh) often stands alone or at the beginning of a sentence, where it is usually separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma. As a standalone exclamation, it can also be followed by an exclamation mark.
EXAMPLE
Oh, jetzt verstehe ich den Zusammenhang.
Oh, now I see the connection.
Oh! Das war knapp.
Oh! That was close.
Expressing realization
When expressing a sudden realization, 'oh' (oh) often appears with words such as 'jetzt' (now), 'also' (so), or 'stimmt' (that's right). The statement that follows explains what the speaker has just realized.
EXAMPLE
Oh, jetzt weiß ich wieder, wo ich den Schlüssel hingelegt habe.
Oh, now I remember where I put the key.
Requests and direct address
Before a request, 'oh' (oh) can strengthen the emotional tone. If it is followed by a direct address, the name or term of address is set off by commas.
EXAMPLE
Oh, Lara, kannst du mir bitte kurz helfen?
Oh, Lara, could you please help me for a moment?
Repeated exclamation
The repetition 'oh oh' (uh-oh) forms a fixed exclamation signaling that trouble is on the horizon. It often appears at the beginning of an utterance and is usually separated from the following sentence by a comma.
EXAMPLE
Oh oh, ich glaube, wir haben den falschen Zug genommen.
Uh-oh, I think we took the wrong train.
In real life
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