Aiyah! ‘Aiyoh’ makes it to the Oxford English Dictionary

If you stub your toe and scream “Aiyoh!” you’d be swearing in English. Are you going, “Aiyah!” reading this? That’s English too.

In its September 2016 update, the Oxford English Dictionary has added over 500 new words, including “Aiyoh” and “Aiyah”. “Aiyoh” is commonly used to express dismay or pain while “Aiyah” can be used to express derision, joy or victory, depending on the context.

These expressions, while common in South India, are not restricted to it. People in many other Asian countries like China, Sri Lanka, Singapore and Malaysia use it too. In fact, in the dictionary, “Aiyoh” is credited to have its origins in Mandarin while “Aiyah” is said to have come from Cantonese. You can aiyah that if you don’t think so.

The update also pays tribute to children’s writer Roald Dahl. September 2016 marks his birth centenary and words that Dahl invented in his books like “splendiferous”, “human bean” and “Oompa Loompa” have been added.

Teen acronym “YOLO” (You Only Live Once), the rude word “moobs” (man boobs) and the useful term “gender-fluid” (to describe a person who does not subscribe to a single, fixed gender identity) are some other additions.

The Oxford English Dictionary is updated four times a year: March, June, September, and December.