Standard Lemma guide

wah

intj · name · noun · 6 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.

  • /wæː/
  • /wɑː/
  • also, interjection: [wa(ːː)]
  • also, interjection: [wæ(ːː)]
  • also, interjection: [wæ̃̂ːː]
  • [wä(ːː)˦˨] etymology 3
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɑː
  • CMU ARPABET: W AA1 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

intj

Meaning 1

A cry of fright, distress, etc. (especially of an infant or young child)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

A cry of amazement, delight, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

intj

Meaning 3

Wow!; whoa! (expressing surprise, gratification, exhaustion or exasperation)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Manglish, Singlish

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

name

Meaning 4

A surname.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

The red panda.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, slang

Topics: lifestyle

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

wah-wah.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Imitative.

From Cantonese 嘩 /哗 (waa3) or Mandarin 哇 (wa).

Borrowed from Cantonese 華 /华 (waa6, waa4).

From Nepali [script needed] (wah donka).

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Tamil: குவா (kuvā) — cry of fright
  • Vietnamese: oe oe — cry of fright
  • Vietnamese: oa oa — cry of fright
  • Vietnamese: oe óe — cry of fright
  • Russian: уа-уа (ua-ua) — cry of amazement
  • Russian: уа-а-а (ua-a-a) — cry of amazement
  • Tamil: ஆ (ā) — cry of amazement
  • Tamil: ஐ (ai) — cry of amazement