- An exclamation used to express surprise, astonishment, admiration, awe, or sometimes dismay or disapproval.
- Indicates a strong reaction to something unexpected, impressive, or significant.
Explanation
Origin
- An imitative or natural exclamation, likely existing in some form for centuries.
- Represents the sound one might make when suddenly impressed or taken aback (an open-mouthed 'oh' combined with a 'w' sound).
- Its simplicity and versatility make it a staple reaction word.
Synonyms & Related Expressions
Alternatives
Slang/Informal:
- Whoa! (Very similar, expresses surprise/stopping short)
- Damn! (Can express admiration or shock, informal/strong)
- Insane! / Sick! / Dope! (Slang for 'amazing'/'impressive', depending on context/generation)
- Bruh. (Online/youth slang, can express disbelief, amazement, or disappointment)
Vulgar/Emphatic:
- Holy shit! / Holy crap! (Strong surprise/astonishment)
- Fuck! / Fucking hell! (Very strong reaction, shock/awe/dismay)
Milder:
- Oh my!
- Goodness!
- My word! (UK, slightly dated)
- Gee / Gee whiz (Dated)
Situational Appropriateness
- Generally acceptable in most informal and semi-formal situations.
- The version expressing dismay (Wow. ↘) can sound judgmental or sarcastic, so use with care.
- Highly enthusiastic Wow! might seem unprofessional in a very formal business setting, where more subdued reactions are expected.
Misunderstanding Warnings
- Intonation is key to distinguishing admiration/surprise from dismay/sarcasm. A flat Wow can easily be misinterpreted as unimpressed or disapproving.
- It's a simple word, but its emotional range is broad.
Examples
- (Admiration) Wow, that painting is beautiful!
- (Surprise) He quit his job and moved to Bali. Wow! Really?
- (Astonishment) Wow, look at the size of that building!
- (Dismay/Disapproval) He spent his entire paycheck on video games. Wow. Just... wow. (Often said slowly)
Dialogue
# Admiration:
Person A: Check out the view from this balcony!
Person B: Wow! ⤴⤵ It's breathtaking! You can see the entire city!
# Dismay:
Person C: He failed the exam again, for the third time.
Person D: Wow. ↘ I don't know what to say.
Social Media Examples
- Comment on a travel photo: Wow! 😍 Where is this?
- Tweet reacting to news: Wow, didn't expect that outcome at all. #news #shocked
- Reply to impressive artwork: Wow, you are incredibly talented!
- Reaction to something negative: He really said that? Wow. Just wow.
Response Patterns
- Acknowledgment: I know, right? or Yeah, it's amazing.
- Modesty (if praised): Oh, thanks. or It was nothing.
- Explanation (if expressing surprise/dismay): Yeah, I couldn't believe it either.
- Further details prompted by the reaction.
Common Follow-up Questions/Actions
After hearing Wow:
- Acknowledge the reaction (I know!).
- Provide more details about the impressive/surprising thing.
- If it was dismay, perhaps justify or explain further.
After saying Wow:
- Often followed by a question seeking more information (Wow! How did you do that?) or another comment (Wow, that's incredible/terrible.).
- Might simply stare in awe or shake one's head in disbelief/dismay.
Conversation Starter
- No. It's a reaction to something seen, heard, or learned.
Intonation
- Highly dependent on context and emotion.
- Admiration/Awe: Often drawn out, rising then falling pitch. Wooow ⤴⤵.
- Surprise/Astonishment: Sharp, higher pitch, falling intonation. WOW! ↘
- Dismay/Disapproval: Slower, lower pitch, level or slightly falling intonation, sometimes clipped. Wow. → or ↘
Generation Differences
- Universal across all generations. Slang alternatives vary by age group.
Regional Variations
- Universal across all English-speaking regions.