ouf
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Translating...
phew, ugh, whoa, wow, crazy
/uf/
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A French exclamation of relief or exasperation, and a slang adjective meaning crazy, intense, or astonishing.
Examples
Ce film d'horreur est vraiment ouf, je n'ai pas pu dormir.
This horror movie is really intense, I couldn't sleep.
Ce concert était ouf, j'ai jamais vu autant d'énergie.
That concert was crazy, I’ve never seen so much energy.
Quand le train a freiné brusquement, les passagers ont tous poussé un ouf.
When the train braked suddenly, the passengers all let out a whew.
En ouvrant la porte, il a entendu un ouf de surprise.
Opening the door, he heard a wow of surprise.
Après avoir fini le marathon, il a poussé un ouf de soulagement.
After finishing the marathon, he let out a phew of relief.
Similar words
pff
flûte
ah
cinglé
aïe
mince
outrageant
époustouflant
détonnant
dingue
Meanings
Usage
Use ouf when you want to convey a sigh of relief or a reaction to something unpleasant.
Examples
Après avoir fini le marathon, il a poussé un ouf de soulagement.
After finishing the marathon, he let out a phew of relief.
Quand le chat a sauté du balcon, j'ai crié ouf !
When the cat jumped off the balcony, I shouted whoa!
Le film était tellement stressant, ouf, je ne pouvais plus respirer.
The movie was so stressful, phew, I could barely breathe.
En ouvrant la porte, il a entendu un ouf de surprise.
Opening the door, he heard a wow of surprise.
Après la réunion interminable, ouf, enfin la pause café.
After the endless meeting, phew, finally the coffee break.
Le gâteau était brûlé, ouf, j'ai dû le jeter.
The cake was burnt, ugh, I had to throw it away.
Quand le train a freiné brusquement, les passagers ont tous poussé un ouf.
When the train braked suddenly, the passengers all let out a whew.
Common mistakes
The interjection is often misplaced in formal contexts
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Je suis désolé, ouf, pour le retard.
| Je suis désolé pour le retard.
|
| Il a dit ouf pendant la réunion officielle.
| Il a dit oh pendant la réunion officielle.
|
| Nous avons utilisé ouf comme titre de chapitre.
| Nous avons utilisé un titre approprié.
|
Similar words
pff
ah
aïe
zut
mince
flûte
ouah
hélas
Usage
Use ouf to describe something that is wildly impressive or insane.
Examples
Ce concert était ouf, j'ai jamais vu autant d'énergie.
That concert was crazy, I’ve never seen so much energy.
Le nouveau smartphone est ouf, il fait tout ce que je veux.
The new smartphone is insane, it does everything I want.
Sa performance sur scène était ouf, tout le monde était sous le choc.
His performance on stage was crazy, everyone was shocked.
Ce film d'horreur est vraiment ouf, je n'ai pas pu dormir.
This horror movie is really intense, I couldn't sleep.
Le prix de cette montre est ouf, impossible à payer.
The price of this watch is outrageous, impossible to pay.
Quand il a gagné le jackpot, il était ouf de joie.
When he won the jackpot, he was ecstatic.
Le design de cette voiture est ouf, vraiment avant-gardiste.
The design of this car is awesome, really avant‑garde.
Common mistakes
The adjective is sometimes confused with a neutral description
| Incorrect | Correct |
| Ce film est ouf, mais il était moyen.
| Ce film était moyen.
|
| Le prix est ouf, mais c'est raisonnable.
| Le prix est raisonnable.
|
| Il est ouf, mais il n'est pas talentueux.
| Il n'est pas talentueux.
|
Similar words
dingue
cinglé
incroyable
outrageant
détonnant
époustouflant
hallucinant
sensationnel
Usage
Choose ouf as an exclamation for relief or as a slang adjective for something wild, depending on context.
Common mistakes
Using ouf in formal writing is a mistake because it is informal.
Etymology
From an onomatopoeic sigh, later used as the verlan of fou meaning crazy.
FAQ
What does ouf mean as an exclamation?
ouf is an informal exclamation used to show relief, annoyance, or impatience.
How is ouf used in slang to describe something intense?
In slang, ouf functions as an adjective meaning crazy, astonishing, or extremely intense.
Can ouf be used in formal writing?
No, ouf is considered informal and should be avoided in formal contexts.
ouf expresses relief or exasperation, while pff usually conveys dismissal or disbelief.
What is the origin of ouf?
The word originates from an onomatopoeic sigh and later became the verlan of fou.
How do you pronounce ouf?
ouf is pronounced /uf/ in French.
What are common mistakes with ouf?
A common mistake is using ouf in formal writing or confusing its exclamation meaning with a neutral adjective.
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