ouch

ouch — exclamation

1. said at the moment something suddenly hurts your body, for example when you are

1.exclamationA1
Definition

said at the moment something suddenly hurts your body, for example when you are cut, burned, or hit.

Example

Ouch, I shut my finger in the car door.

Ouch, + clause after sudden pain

Maya whispered, "Ouch," when the nurse cleaned her scraped knee.

quoted interjection during treatment

Common collocations
  • ouch, that hurts
  • ouch, my finger
  • say "ouch"
  • shout "ouch"
Synonyms
  • ow

    even shorter and more direct for a sharp pain

  • oof

    often used for a blow or pain mixed with shock

  • yikes

    shows alarm more than bodily pain

Grammar Patterns

Ouch! + short pain reaction

Ouch, + body-part comment

Usage Note

Usually said alone or before a very short comment such as 'ouch, my hand'. For pain that continues, speakers normally describe it with verbs like 'hurt' or 'ache' instead of repeating 'ouch'.

Common Mistakes

My arm is ouch after the fall.
My arm hurts after the fall.
use 'ouch' as a reaction, not as an adjective.
I ouched when I touched the pan.
I said "ouch" when I touched the pan.
in this core use, 'ouch' is the spoken cry itself.

2. said after a cruel joke, sharp criticism, or blunt remark that makes you feel hu

2.exclamationB1
Definition

said after a cruel joke, sharp criticism, or blunt remark that makes you feel hurt.

Example

"You sing worse than Dad." "Ouch, that was rude."

Ouch, + comment after an insult

Eva laughed, then said "Ouch" when Leo mocked her old phone.

say "ouch" after a personal joke

Common collocations
  • ouch, that was rude
  • say "ouch" after a joke
  • ouch, harsh
  • mutter "ouch"
Synonyms
  • ow

    can also be used figuratively, but it is more often physical

  • oof

    common when a remark lands hard or feels socially awkward

  • ugh

    focuses more on annoyance or disgust than on feeling wounded

Grammar Patterns

Ouch, + comment on a rude remark

say "ouch" after + criticism or joke

Usage Note

Often follows teasing, blunt honesty, or criticism, and can sound half-playful when the emotional hurt is not serious. Distinguish from sense 1: here the pain is social or emotional, not physical.

Common Mistakes

Ouch, your report is a mess,' Tina told Ben.
Tina told Ben, 'Your report is a mess,' and Ben replied, 'Ouch.
'ouch' reacts to a hurtful comment; it does not introduce one.
I felt ouch after her joke.
I felt hurt after her joke.' / 'I said "ouch" after her joke.
use 'hurt' for the feeling and 'ouch' for the spoken reaction.

Synonym discussion

Sense: exclamation/1

For sudden physical pain, 'ouch' is one of the most natural everyday reactions. 'Ow' is even shorter and more direct, so speakers often use it for a sharp instant of pain: 'Ow! My toe.' 'Oof' usually suggests a blow, a hard landing, or pain mixed with shock. 'Yikes' is different because it shows alarm or nervous surprise more than pain itself. 'Ugh' usually expresses disgust or frustration, though speakers may also use it when something hurts in an annoying way. 'Ouch' is especially useful because it can also extend to emotional pain after a rude comment. If you touch a hot pan, say 'Ouch!' If a friend makes a cruel joke, you can also reply 'Ouch.'

ow ↗oofyikesugh ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ouch moment

Phrases

  • say "ouch"
  • mutter "ouch"
  • mouth "ouch"

Etymology

Modern English

'Ouch' is a modern English cry formed from the sound people make when pain hits suddenly. Because it imitates a natural human reaction, it does not come from a long chain of older word-building in the way many ordinary nouns and verbs do. It first belonged to bodily pain and later came to be used for the sting of a cruel or embarrassing remark as well.