Owie

Part of speech: interjection

Pronunciation: /ˈaʊ(w)iː/

Definitions

1. An expression often used by children to indicate pain caused by an injury or discomfort in a playful or exaggerated way
2. A colloquial term typically used by young ones to refer to a minor injury or hurt, often with an emphasis on its emotional impact
3. A lighthearted utterance among kids to signify a physical ache or slight hurt, evoking sympathy or concern from adults

Etymology: "Owie" is formed from the interjection "ow," a cry of pain that English has used since at least the 1500s, plus the diminutive suffix "-ie," which English speakers attach to pet names and childish words (think "doggie" or "birdie"). The suffix descends from an Old English ending, "-ig," that was used to form diminutives and adjectives, so the same small sound that makes a dog "doggie" turns a sudden pain into something a child can hold. The result is a word that shrinks an injury down to size. Adding the diminutive lets a child name a scraped knee in the same breath as the cry itself, so "owie" carries the pain and the reassurance at once. Its ordinary use is in speech to and about small children, where the suffix does the work of softening the hurt.

Synonyms: ouch, pain