different between whoa vs whew

English

Alternative forms

• woah
• 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): /w??/, /???/
• (US) enPR: w?, hw?, IPA^(key): /wo?/, /?o?/
• Rhymes: -??
• Homophone: woe (in accents with the wine-whine merger)

Interjection

whoa

1. Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down.

   Whoa, Nelly!
2. An expression of surprise.

   Whoa, are you serious?

3. Used as a meaningless filler in song lyrics.
   • 2003, "Weird Al" Yankovic, eBay (song)

     I am the type who is liable to snipe you
     With two seconds left to go, whoa.

   • 2010, Bruce Springsteen, It's a Shame

     And oh whoa girl, it's a shame.
     Oh whoa girl, it's a doggone shame.

Usage notes

An alternative spelling, woah (c. 1856), is common, but it is considered an error by some.

Antonyms

• (stop, said to a horse): giddyup, giddap

Derived terms

• whoa back

Translations

Verb

whoa (third-person singular simple present whoas, present participle whoaing, simple past and past participle whoaed)

1. (transitive) To attempt to slow (an animal) by crying "whoa".
   • 1926, Josephine Demott Robinson, The Circus Lady (page 38)

     He was whoaing the horses loudly, and they did seem to be going faster than usual—in fact, they were galloping.

References

• Whoa! Woah?! Whoah. How an old exclamation became the Internet’s most variously spelled word., Matthew J.X. Malady, Slate

Anagrams

• woah

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /hwju?/, /fju?/, [?????], [?????] [very short and unvoiced]
• Homophone: phew

Etymology 1

Interjection

whew

1. An expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension; the release of breath; an expression of relief.

   (from strenuous labour) Whew! That box weighs a ton!

   (from intense concern) Whew! Thank goodness you?re safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!

   (from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didn?t see me! That was a close call!

2. An expression of amazement or surprise.
   • 1981, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins, revised edition, chapter 1,

     "...Now I must be off. Whew, it's as cold as the North Pole. Which way is the wind blowing?"

Synonyms

• (expressing relief of tension): phew
• (expressing surprise): wow

Related terms

• whoa
• wow

Translations

Verb

whew (third-person singular simple present whews, present participle whewing, simple past and past participle whewed)

1. (Britain, Scotland, dialect) To whistle with a shrill pipe, like a plover.

Etymology 2

Verb

whew (third-person singular simple present whews, present participle whewing, simple past and past participle whewed)

1. (intransitive, Britain, dialect) To bustle about.