oi
Said to get someone's attentionSaid to get someone's attention; hey.
» Oi, what are you looking at?
Агов, на що це ти дивишся?
Гей, на що це ти дивишся?
Meaning
3 senses(Commonwealth, Hong Kong, Ireland, UK, impolite, usually)Said to get someone's attention; hey.
Oi, you with the red hat – what do you think you're doing?
Oi! Stop that!
(Commonwealth, Hong Kong, Ireland, UK, impolite, usually)An expression of surprise.
Oi! This is new!
(Commonwealth, Hong Kong, Ireland, UK, impolite, usually)An informal greeting, similar to hi.
Oi! How's it going?
Examples
18 sentencesOi, what are you looking at?
Агов, на що це ти дивишся?
Oi, you lot, come over here and help me with the cleaning.
Гей, ви, підійдіть сюди й допоможіть мені з прибиранням.
"Oi," I said, nudging him with my knee, "don't fall asleep."
de„Du“, sagte ich und gab ihm einen kleinen Stoß mit dem Knie, „schlaf nicht ein!“
Oi, sleepyhead, wake up!
deEh, Schlafmütze, aufwachen!
Oi, daydreamer, wakey wakey!
deEh, Schlafmütze, aufwachen!
Origin
Variant of the interjection hoy with h-dropping in working class and Cockney speech; firstVariant of the interjection hoy with h-dropping in working class and Cockney speech; first recorded in the 1930s. Compare also unrelated Portuguese oi and Japanese おい (oi).
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