whoa

== English == === Alternative forms === woa (rare) woah (often proscribed) whoah === Etymology === Whoa (c. 1843) is a variant of woa (c. 1840), itself a variant of wo (c. 1787), from who (c. 1450), ultimately from Middle English ho, hoo (interjection), probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call). Compare German ho, Old French ho ! (“hold!, halt!”). === Pronunciation === (UK) IPA(key): /wəʊ/, /ʍəʊ/ (US) enPR: wō, hwō, IPA(key): /woʊ/, /ʍoʊ/ Rhymes: -əʊ Homophone: woe (wine–whine merger) === Interjection === whoa Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down. An expression of surprise. Used as a meaningless filler in song lyrics. 2003, "Weird Al" Yankovic, eBay (song) I am the type who is liable to snipe youWith two seconds left to go, whoa. ==== Usage notes ==== The alternative spelling woah (attested since c. 1856), is often considered nonstandard or informal, but has become increasingly common over the years. ==== Antonyms ==== (antonym(s) of “stop, said to a horse”): giddyup, giddap ==== Derived terms ==== whoa back whoa, Nelly ==== Translations ==== === Verb === whoa (third-person singular simple present whoas, present participle whoaing, simple past and past participle whoaed) (transitive) To attempt to slow (an animal) by crying "whoa". === References === Whoa! Woah?! Whoah. How an old exclamation became the Internet’s most variously spelled word., Matthew J.X. Malady, Slate === Anagrams === woah == Japanese == === Etymology === Borrowed from English whoa. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): [β̞o̞ː] === Interjection === whoa(ウォー) • (wō) (chiefly in popular music) wow; whoa