Standard Lemma guide

argh

adj · intj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ɑː(ɹ)(ɡ)/
  • [ɑɹɣ] natural exclamation
  • [ɑːɣː]
  • Canada: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑː(ɹ)ɡ
  • CMU ARPABET: AA1 R G Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Timid; cowardly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Northern-England, Scotland, dialectal

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Expressing annoyance, dismay, embarrassment or frustration.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: onomatopoeic

Examples

  • Argh! It's already 7:15! We're never gonna make it!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From Middle English argh, from Old English earg (“inert; weak; timid; cowardly”), from Proto-West Germanic *arg, from Proto-Germanic *argaz. Cognate with Scots ergh, argh, arch, erf (“timid; reluctant; unwilling”). Doublet of eerie.

In imitation of a cry. Used since at least the 18th century. Compare ah, of which it could be a lengthened form.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: ääh — expression of annoyance
  • Finnish: äsh — expression of annoyance
  • Finnish: äh — expression of annoyance
  • French: argh — expression of annoyance
  • German: ohh — expression of annoyance
  • Japanese: うわー (uwā) — expression of annoyance
  • Japanese: ぎゃー (gyā) — expression of annoyance
  • Japanese: あ゙ — expression of annoyance
  • Eastern Mari: а-а (a-a) — expression of annoyance
  • Persian: اَه (ahh) — expression of annoyance
  • Polish: uch — expression of annoyance
  • Portuguese: argh — expression of annoyance
  • Russian: ррр (rrr) — expression of annoyance
  • Russian: ё (jo) — expression of annoyance