Eurgh

Part of speech: interjection

Definitions

1. An exclamation of revulsion or disgust made when something unpleasant is seen, smelled, tasted or touched
2. A sound uttered to show strong distaste, nausea or repugnance at something repellent
3. An interjection voiced in response to something gross or offensive to convey strong aversion

Etymology: "Eurgh" is an imitation of a sound rather than a word built from older parts. Its origin lies in the noise a person makes when vomiting, which is why it carries such immediate, physical disgust. Interjections like this are often onomatopoeic, meaning the spelling tries to reproduce a sound the speaker is making or hearing, and "eurgh" follows that pattern closely. The spelling is worth a closer look. The "eu" and "gh" are not following normal English spelling rules; they are a way of writing a throat-clearing, retching sound that no conventional letters capture neatly. Writers and speakers have settled on this rough sequence because it lets a reader hear the gag reflex in the word itself.

Synonyms: ugh, yuck, bleh, ew