Oopsy

Part of speech: interjection

Pronunciation: /ˈuːpsi/

Definitions

1. A small mistake or accident that is typically harmless or amusing
2. A lighthearted expression used to indicate a minor error or mishap that is often considered funny or endearing
3. A term describing a trivial blunder or slip-up that elicits laughter or a sense of playfulness

Etymology: "Oopsy" is "oops" with the diminutive ending "-y" added, a pattern English has used for centuries to make words sound small, cute, or affectionate. The "-y" ending is the same one found in names like "Johnny" or words like "doggy." Put together, "oopsy" softens the blunt exclamation "oops" into something gentler, the kind of thing you say when you have knocked over a cup and want to sound apologetic rather than alarmed. The ending does more than make the word cute. It also gives the word a grammatical life beyond the interjection: "oopsy" can be used as a noun or verb in the way that "oops" was extended into more playful uses. The verb, an "oopsy" as a slip-up, was derived from the noun, so the word has been stretched into several roles from a single syllable of surprise.

Synonyms: oops, whoops, uh-oh, mistake, blunder