Dictionary

wah en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /wɑː/
• (Southern-England) audio
• [wa(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ̃̂ːː] (also, interjection)

Etymology

From Nepali वाँ दोन्काँ (wā̃ donkā̃).

Meanings

1. (archaic, slang) The red panda.

Forms

wah en · INTJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /wɑː/
• [wä(ːː)˦˨] etymology 3
• (Southern-England) audio
• /wæː/
• [wa(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ̃̂ːː] (also, interjection)

Etymology

Imitative.

Meanings

1. A cry of fright, distress, etc. (especially of an infant or young child)
2. A cry of amazement, delight, etc.
   • ‘Wah! Wah! Wah!’ they shouted and threw up their arms in delight. 1937, Ion L. Idriess, Over the Range, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, published 1947, page 277:

Forms

Deriveds

wahmbulance · wambulance

Translations (8)

ta குவா (cry of fright) · ru уа-уа (cry of amazement) · vi oe óe (cry of fright) · vi oe oe (cry of fright) · ru уа-а-а (cry of amazement) · vi oa oa (cry of fright) · ta ஆ (cry of amazement) · ta ஐ (cry of amazement)

wah en · NOUN · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• /wɑː/
• (Southern-England) audio
• [wa(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ̃̂ːː] (also, interjection)

Etymology

Imitative.

Meanings

1. wah-wah.

Forms

Deriveds

wah pedal

wah en · INTJ · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• /wɑː/
• [wä(ːː)˦˨] etymology 3
• (Southern-England) audio
• [wa(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ(ːː)] (also, interjection)
• [wæ̃̂ːː] (also, interjection)

Etymology

From Cantonese 嘩 /哗 (waa³) or Mandarin 哇 (wa).

Meanings

1. (Manglish, Singlish) Wow!; whoa! (expressing surprise, gratification, exhaustion or exasperation)
   • Wah, you quite brave hor... 2005 October 30, Wong Kim Hoh, The Sunday Times, quoted in Jack Tsen-Ta Lee, A Dictionary of Singlish and Singapore English:
   • “Wah, so tall already, ah? Primary what already, ha? 2022, Daren Shiau, chapter VIII, in Heartland, Ethos Books, →ISBN: