Fie

Part of speech: interjection

Pronunciation: /faɪ/

Definitions

1. An exclamation that conveys strong disapproval or moral indignation
2. A word used to express heartfelt disapproval or distaste towards something
3. An interjection vocalizing contempt or rejection of an idea or behavior

Etymology: "Fie" is an exclamation of disgust or reproach, and its roots are plainly imitative. Old English had no word spelled this way; the sound seems to have been a natural cry of revulsion that speakers across Germanic languages produced independently. The closest parallel is Swedish "fy", which carries the same meaning, and English may also have been reinforced by Old Norse, the language of the Scandinavian settlers in northern and eastern England. The interjection's sense has stayed remarkably steady: it signals that something offends the speaker's sense of decency or good taste. Its persistence owes much to its use in formal and old-fashioned speech, where it still reads as a mild, almost theatrical rebuke rather than a true curse.

Synonyms: alas, shame, disgrace, scandal, horrors