How to say "whoa" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- interjectionCovers only the command sense: a 'whoa' used to stop a horse or the like. For the exclamation of surprise, this less common word is not what you want.
- interjectionAn exclamation of surprise that also covers 'yikes', so it can carry an alarmed shade. It is less common, but it fits a startled reaction to something unexpected.
- interjectionA colloquial exclamation covering 'wow; whoa', for surprise or amazement. It suits casual spoken reactions to something startling or impressive, though it is a less common interjection.
- interjectionAn exclamation of astonishment matching 'holy moly; holy cow', also covering 'whoa; wow'. It is a less common interjection, used for a startled cry at something shocking or amazing.
- interjectionA colloquial exclamation covering 'holy moly; holy cow; whoa; wow'. Use it for a casual burst of surprise or amazement; it is a less common interjection.
Use 「どう」 for the command to stop a horse; for 'whoa' as an exclamation of surprise, choose among 「あなや」, 「うひょ」, 「シェー」 and 「アジャパー」, noting that 「うひょ」 and 「アジャパー」 are colloquial and all five are less common.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
