Oy vey
Encyclopedia
Oy vey or just oy, is an exclamation of dismay or exasperation meaning "oh pain." According to Douglas Harper, the phrase is derived from Yiddish and is of Germanic origin. It is a cognate of the German expression Oh weh, or Au weh, a common expression used in Bavaria and Austria in similar situations, combining the German and Dutch exclamation Au! meaning "Ouch/Oh" and the German word Weh, a cognate
of the English word woe (as well as Dutch wee meaning pain). The expression is also related to Oh ve, an older Danish expression that derives from Low German
and Oy Wah, an expression used with a similar meaning in the Montbéliard
region in France.
Alternative theories for the origin of the Yiddish expression have been proposed at various times. The word oy has been hypothesized as stemming from Biblical Hebrew, with cognates in other Semitic languages. In the JPS Hebrew-English translation (pg 667) 2 Samuel 12:14 states oy vey (translated: my enemies) the phrase is intended to avoid saying "spurned the Lord", instead it says "spurned the enemies of the Lord". cf. note d-d at 1 Samuel 25:22
In New York City
, there is a sign on the Williamsburg Bridge
that reads "Leaving Brooklyn
: Oy vey!" because of the borough's
large Jewish population.
Weird Al Yankovic's
song "Pretty Fly For A Rabbi
" on his album Running With Scissors
frequently uses the phrase. There is a Jewish parody of James Bond
who is called "Oy Oy Seven".
After three wise men enchanted some rock shaped like the letter Shin it would turn into Shaloman
when someone shouted "Oy vey!"
Cognate
In linguistics, cognates are words that have a common etymological origin. This learned term derives from the Latin cognatus . Cognates within the same language are called doublets. Strictly speaking, loanwords from another language are usually not meant by the term, e.g...
of the English word woe (as well as Dutch wee meaning pain). The expression is also related to Oh ve, an older Danish expression that derives from Low German
Low German
Low German or Low Saxon is an Ingvaeonic West Germanic language spoken mainly in northern Germany and the eastern part of the Netherlands...
and Oy Wah, an expression used with a similar meaning in the Montbéliard
Montbéliard
Montbéliard is a city in the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France. It is one of the two subprefectures of the department.-History:...
region in France.
Alternative theories for the origin of the Yiddish expression have been proposed at various times. The word oy has been hypothesized as stemming from Biblical Hebrew, with cognates in other Semitic languages. In the JPS Hebrew-English translation (pg 667) 2 Samuel 12:14 states oy vey (translated: my enemies) the phrase is intended to avoid saying "spurned the Lord", instead it says "spurned the enemies of the Lord". cf. note d-d at 1 Samuel 25:22
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, there is a sign on the Williamsburg Bridge
Williamsburg Bridge
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge in New York City across the East River connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan at Delancey Street with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn at Broadway near the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway...
that reads "Leaving Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
: Oy vey!" because of the borough's
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
large Jewish population.
Weird Al Yankovic's
"Weird Al" Yankovic
Alfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
song "Pretty Fly For A Rabbi
Pretty Fly for a Rabbi
"Pretty Fly for a Rabbi" is a song by "Weird Al" Yankovic. It is a parody of "Pretty Fly " by The Offspring, and it was released from the 1999 album Running with Scissors. The song was released exclusively in Australia as a single.. Tress MacNeille performs the line "How ya doin' Bernie?"...
" on his album Running With Scissors
Running with Scissors (album)
Running with Scissors is the 10th studio album by "Weird Al" Yankovic, released on June 29, 1999. The album contains the hit single "The Saga Begins", a parody of Don McLean's song "American Pie".-Details:...
frequently uses the phrase. There is a Jewish parody of James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
who is called "Oy Oy Seven".
After three wise men enchanted some rock shaped like the letter Shin it would turn into Shaloman
Shaloman
Shaloman is a Jewish superhero with powers similar to Superman. Known as "The Man of Stone," "Defender of the Downtrodden," and the "Kosher Crusader," Shaloman was created by Al Wiesner.-Publication history:...
when someone shouted "Oy vey!"