OK, just a lighthearted question :)?

Question

I have often wondered this: I think most Muslims know what we mean when we use the yiddish phrase 'oy vey'.

My query: is there an Arabic equivalent? A phrase that you guys use to express... angst, but that can also convey humour as well?

Mimi, those sound great! I just noticed you have put your name in both hebrew and arabic :)

MIKE S - lol lol glad you are enjoying 'oy vey' - if you ever need to use anything more intense, then there is the option of 'oy gevalt' - similar to oy vey but conveys JUST that bit more angst...... there is a funny joke about it, i will try and post it tomorrow!

SJG - for real grief, the phrase is 'oy vey iz mir',. It is perfectly fine to say 'oy vey' and Jews say it often.

JEWCY - yes I have read that book it's great! Have you read that author's other book, 'Hooray for Yiddish'? It too is great fun!

Answer 1

OMG :)

Answer 2

A good question.
I say Wleeeeeeeeeee. lol. It means the same as oy vey in syrian arabic.

Sometimes we say Ya waili

Sometimes I say oy, I don't know whether other Arabs say it.

Oh I remembered one more thing, we say Ya Bai yeee



I have had my name in Arabic and Hebrew for about two weeks. Maybe you were engaged in answering the so many questions on here. I notice people are asking a lot these days, lol.
Thanks for removing me from your block list.


PuttPutt, you are funny what does the relgion has to do with the language?

Answer 3

Have you ever read the book " The Joys of Yiddish?" by Leo Rosten? If not, it's a great book - lots of Jewishly entertaining commentary on the language, it's roots and the people who use it!

Actually, I had no idea of the Arabic equivalent to such phrases, but it makes total sense. A lot of our words seem similar, such as Shalom and Salaam. (spelling?) Great question, have a star!

"What is lofty can be said in ANY language, and what is mean should be said in NONE." - Maimonides

Answer 4

Putt Putt's response is a bit on the gross side, I enjoyed Mimi's but I'm darned it I can think of a word or phrase in Amer-English that even comes close to 'Oy-Vey'. And I thank you for the spelling, I have used it on occasion but couldn't come up with a way to spell it. I think 'Oy-Vey' covers it nicely but I will make of note of Mimi's as well and try to remember them all as well as come up with one or two of my own. But I think it might just be a losing battle...what could cover it better than 'Oy-Vey'?...I think perhaps all of us have used it at one time or another regardless of ethnic heritage or religion. I for one am actually quite fond of it. It has a ring to it. No offense was intended to anyone in this response. But gotta say I like it!

Answer 5

My mother was born in Egypt, and her way of saying "Oy vey!" is: "Dastour!?" or "Waalia!" She uses it when she is told something puzzling or when she's surprised by something. It's funny and dramatic at the same time.

Like Mimi said, she also use to say "Ya baiee",
but hasn't used it in a very long time...it took me back to my childhood.

O.T.S. Look at my avatar and look at Jewcygur...We must be geisha sisters from a past life. lol lol I guess I'm going to have to go back to the costume store! lol lol

Answer 6

A good question.
I say Wleeeeeeeeeee. lol. It means the same as oy vey in syrian arabic.

Sometimes we say Ya waili

Sometimes I say oy, I don't know whether other Arabs say it.

Oh I remembered one more thing, we say Ya Bai yeee



I have had my name in Arabic and Hebrew for about two weeks. Maybe you were engaged in answering the so many questions on here. I notice people are asking a lot these days, lol.
Thanks for removing me from your block list.


PuttPutt, you are funny what does the relgion has to do with the language?

Answer 7

I was told by an old Jewish man to NEVER say Oi Vey unless I was truly heartbroken...the term is only to be used with the utmost care...it is what the older Jews used when dealing with the disgusting deaths of their fellow men during the Holocaust...he was emphatic that I learn not to use it as slang.

EDIT: That's not how the older generation sees it...I'll stick with what I was advised by someone who actually survived the Holocaust.

Answer 8

My husband says Palestinians say , aha, or aywwwwwwa, which you know aha and aywwwwwwwa is a long yeeeeeeees. Also the noise yeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

Mimi yai bai yeee is a good one , but the other ones are a little ....crude?

but then im guessing that oy vey mean like okkkkkkk?
lol...maybe it doesn't? Thanks.

Answer 9

Me not Arab, but a Muslim but not aware of this expression, 'oy-vey' sounds good anyway!

Nice to see you are making air light!

Answer 10

Anyway i want to know what your big literary lie is leave it

Answer 11

Oh Dear Allah....