Standard Lemma guide

crikey

intj · 1 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.

  • Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɹaɪki/
  • Australian: /ˈkɹɑeki/
  • Queensland Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • New-Zealand: /ˈkɹaɪki/
  • New-Zealand: /ˈkɹɑe̯ki/
  • rhymes with -aɪki

1

intj

Meaning 1

An exclamation of astonishment.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Australia, Commonwealth, Ireland, UK

Examples

  • Crikey, mate, that ain't a knife, this is a knife!

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Euphemistic substitute for Christ, perhaps a corruption of Christ King. Compare criminy, cripes, crivvens. Attested from the 19th century.

Across languages

Translations

21 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Afrikaans: ettig — exclamation of astonishment
  • Afrikaans: aitsa — exclamation of astonishment
  • Finnish: herranen aika — exclamation of astonishment
  • French: parbleu — exclamation of astonishment
  • French: palsambleu — exclamation of astonishment
  • French: morbleu — exclamation of astonishment
  • French: crique — exclamation of astonishment
  • German: hoppla — exclamation of astonishment
  • German: parbleu — exclamation of astonishment
  • Italian: cribbio — exclamation of astonishment
  • Italian: perbacco — exclamation of astonishment
  • Italian: dannazione — exclamation of astonishment
  • Italian: osteria — exclamation of astonishment
  • Italian: alla faccia — exclamation of astonishment
  • Māori: ēhe — exclamation of astonishment
  • Portuguese: credo! — exclamation of astonishment
  • Portuguese: bolas! — exclamation of astonishment
  • Russian: бо́же мой (bóže moj) — exclamation of astonishment
  • Russian: на́до же (nádo že) — exclamation of astonishment
  • Russian: о бо́же (o bóže) — exclamation of astonishment
  • Spanish: caray — exclamation of astonishment