Ah in Different Languages
Discover 'Ah' in 134 Languages: Dive into Translations, Hear Pronunciations, and Uncover Cultural Insights.
Updated on March 6, 2024
The word 'ah' is a simple exclamation that holds a significant place in various languages and cultures around the world. Often used to express realization, surprise, or understanding, this interjection carries a universal appeal that transcends linguistic barriers. Its cultural importance is evident in its widespread usage, from casual conversations to formal speeches.
For those with a passion for language and culture, understanding the translation of 'ah' in different languages can be an intriguing journey. This exploration highlights the unique ways in which different cultures convey similar sentiments, offering a fascinating glimpse into the rich tapestry of human communication.
For instance, in Spanish, 'ah' translates to 'ahh', while in French, it becomes 'ah'. In German, the equivalent is 'ah', and in Japanese, it is 'あ' (pronounced as 'a'). These translations not only provide a linguistic insight but also offer a deeper understanding of the cultural nuances associated with this simple exclamation.
Join us as we delve into the various translations of 'ah' in different languages, and discover the unique ways in which this universal exclamation is expressed around the world.
Ah
Ah in Sub-Saharan African Languages
| Afrikaans | ah | ||
| The word "ah" in Afrikaans can also be used to express surprise, disbelief, or regret. | |||
| Amharic | አህ | ||
| The Amharic word "አህ" can also be used to express surprise or disbelief. | |||
| Hausa | ah | ||
| The interjection "ah" in Hausa can also mean to express surprise, sudden realization, sympathy, sadness, or a longing for something. | |||
| Igbo | ah | ||
| The Igbo word "ah" can also mean "yes" or "OK". | |||
| Malagasy | ah | ||
| Malagasy "ah" has several meanings, including "maybe", "well", and as a response to a question. | |||
| Nyanja (Chichewa) | ah | ||
| In Nyanja, "Ah" can refer to the sound of laughter, surprise, or pain. | |||
| Shona | ah | ||
| In Shona, "ah" can also mean "yes" or express surprise. | |||
| Somali | ah | ||
| The word "ah" is also used as a prefix to form interrogative words like "ahya" (who) and "ahma" (what). | |||
| Sesotho | ah | ||
| In Sesotho, "ah" can also mean "that's right" or "indeed". | |||
| Swahili | ah | ||
| In Swahili, "ah" is also an interjection expressing surprise, satisfaction, or a realization. | |||
| Xhosa | ah | ||
| A more archaic form of the word is "ahee" and is used to describe a sound of admiration or surprise. | |||
| Yoruba | ah | ||
| The Yoruba word "ah" can also mean "yes" or "please". | |||
| Zulu | ah | ||
| In Zulu, "ah" also denotes an exclamation of surprise or realization. | |||
| Bambara | ah | ||
| Ewe | ah | ||
| Kinyarwanda | ah | ||
| Lingala | ah | ||
| Luganda | ah | ||
| Sepedi | ah | ||
| Twi (Akan) | ah | ||
Ah in North African & Middle Eastern Languages
| Arabic | آه | ||
| The word "آه" (ah) in Arabic can also mean "sigh" or "longing." | |||
| Hebrew | אה | ||
| אה or אח in the biblical era denoted the name of Yahweh rather than a sound of exclamation. | |||
| Pashto | آه | ||
| The Pashto word "آه" can also be an interjection expressing sorrow, regret, or surprise. | |||
| Arabic | آه | ||
| The word "آه" (ah) in Arabic can also mean "sigh" or "longing." | |||
Ah in Western European Languages
| Albanian | ah | ||
| The word "ah" can also mean "wow" or "oh" in Albanian. | |||
| Basque | ah | ||
| In Basque, "ah" can also mean "the way", "the manner", or "by means of". | |||
| Catalan | ah | ||
| "Ah" is also the Catalan exclamation of surprise, astonishment or pain. | |||
| Croatian | ah | ||
| The word "Ah" can also be used as an interjection expressing surprise, sudden recognition, or realization. | |||
| Danish | ah | ||
| In Danish, "ah" can also mean "yes" or "indeed". | |||
| Dutch | ah | ||
| "Ah" means "monkey" in Old Norse. It comes from the Proto-Germanic word *apor, which also meant "monkey". The word "aap" is still used to mean "monkey" in Dutch today. | |||
| English | ah | ||
| The word "ah" can also be used to indicate surprise or sudden understanding. | |||
| French | ah | ||
| The interjection "ah" can also be used in French to express surprise, pain, or relief. | |||
| Frisian | ah | ||
| The exclamation "ah" in Frisian can also be spelled "o". | |||
| Galician | ah | ||
| The interjection "ah" in Galician can also be used to express satisfaction or as part of an idiom. | |||
| German | ah | ||
| In German, "ah" can also be used as an expression of surprise, realization, or satisfaction | |||
| Icelandic | ah | ||
| In Icelandic, "ah" can also mean "a river" or "a stream". | |||
| Irish | ah | ||
| In Irish, "ah" is the third person singular imperative form of the verb "to say." | |||
| Italian | ah | ||
| The Italian interjection "ah" can also express surprise, relief, or satisfaction. | |||
| Luxembourgish | ah | ||
| The interjection "Ah" has multiple meanings including surprise, happiness, or disappointment. | |||
| Maltese | ah | ||
| The Maltese word "ah" can also mean "yes", "okay", or "I understand" depending on context and tone of voice. | |||
| Norwegian | ah | ||
| The Norwegian word "ah" can also mean "oh" or "hmm". | |||
| Portuguese (Portugal, Brazil) | ah | ||
| In Portuguese, "ah" can also be an interjection expressing surprise or realization. | |||
| Scots Gaelic | ah | ||
| The Scots Gaelic word "ah" can also mean "ahem" and is used to indicate that one wants to get someone's attention. | |||
| Spanish | ah | ||
| The Spanish word "ah" can also be an exclamation used to express surprise or realization. | |||
| Swedish | ah | ||
| Swedish "ah" can also mean "monkey", "great ape" or "big hairy spider". | |||
| Welsh | ah | ||
| In Welsh, "AH" can also mean "yes" or signify agreement. | |||
Ah in Eastern European Languages
| Belarusian | ах | ||
| The Belarusian expression 'ах' can also be used to express contempt, exasperation, or disapproval. | |||
| Bosnian | ah | ||
| The interjection “ah” in Bosnian can also be used to express surprise, realization, or sudden understanding. | |||
| Bulgarian | ах | ||
| In Bulgarian, "ах" can also mean "oh," "alas," or express surprise, regret, or longing. | |||
| Czech | ah | ||
| The Czech word "ah" can also be used as an interjection to express agreement or understanding. | |||
| Estonian | ah | ||
| The interjection "ah" in Estonian can also mean "aha" (surprise) or "oh" (disappointment). | |||
| Finnish | ah | ||
| In Finnish, "ah" can also refer to a small opening or a hole. | |||
| Hungarian | ah | ||
| The word "ah" can also mean "yes" or "I understand" in Hungarian, similar to how "uh-huh" is used in English. | |||
| Latvian | ah | ||
| "ah" is an interjection expressing surprise, sudden awareness or emotion in Latvian, similar to "well" in English. | |||
| Lithuanian | ai | ||
| The word "ai" ("ah") can also mean "what?" | |||
| Macedonian | ах | ||
| The interjection "ах" in Macedonian can also express surprise, disappointment, or disapproval. | |||
| Polish | ah | ||
| In Polish, "ah" is a sigh of either pain or pleasure, and can also be used as a question word. | |||
| Romanian | ah | ||
| The Romanian "ah" can also mean "ouch" similar to the English "ow". | |||
| Russian | ах | ||
| "Ах" also refers to a type of grass that grows near rivers in Russia. | |||
| Serbian | ах | ||
| The word "Ах" in Serbian can also be an exclamation of surprise or joy, and is spelled "Аха" in this context. | |||
| Slovak | ach | ||
| The Slovak word "ach" can also be an abbreviation of the German "acht", which is an exclamation meaning "attention" or "look out". | |||
| Slovenian | ah | ||
| The word "ah" in Slovenian can also mean "oh" or "alas". | |||
| Ukrainian | ах | ||
| The Ukrainian word "ах" (ah) has alternate meanings of "oh" and "alas". | |||
Ah in South Asian Languages
| Bengali | আহ | ||
| The Bengali word "Ah" (আহ) originates from Sanskrit and can also mean to invite, call, or summon. | |||
| Gujarati | આહ | ||
| The Gujarati word "આહ" also means "slowly" and is derived from the Sanskrit word "आह" meaning "interjection of pleasure or pain". | |||
| Hindi | एएच | ||
| The word "एएच" in Hindi can also mean "to fill" or "to satisfy," reflecting its original Sanskrit root "āp," meaning "to obtain" or "to reach." | |||
| Kannada | ಆಹ್ | ||
| The Kannada word "ಆಹ್" ("ah") can also mean "yes" or "agreed", similar to the English word "aye". | |||
| Malayalam | ah | ||
| The word "ah" in Malayalam can also mean "yes" or "indeed." | |||
| Marathi | आह | ||
| The Marathi word "आह" (ah) can also mean "yes" or "indeed". | |||
| Nepali | आह | ||
| The Nepali word "आह" (ah) can also mean "sigh" or "expression of surprise or relief." | |||
| Punjabi | ਆਹ | ||
| The Punjabi word "ਆਹ" can also refer to a type of exclamation expressing sudden realization or understanding. | |||
| Sinhala (Sinhalese) | අහ් | ||
| The Sinhala word "අහ්" (ah) is derived from the Sanskrit word "आहा" (āhā), which is used to express surprise, delight, or admiration. | |||
| Tamil | ஆ | ||
| The Tamil letter “ஆ” (ah) has a variant form “அஃ” (ah) that appears in some ancient texts and is also used as a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva. | |||
| Telugu | ఆహ్ | ||
| The word "ఆహ్" ("ah") is derived from the Sanskrit word "आह" ("ah"), which is an exclamation expressing surprise, wonder, or pleasure. | |||
| Urdu | آہ | ||
| Urdu "آہ" (ah) derives from Persian "آه" (ah) and is cognate with Latin "animus" (soul, breath). | |||
Ah in East Asian Languages
| Chinese (Simplified) | 啊 | ||
| In addition to its common use as an exclamation, "啊" can also mean "yes," "I see," or indicate surprise or understanding. | |||
| Chinese (Traditional) | 啊 | ||
| 阿 is the traditional form of 啊, mostly used as an alternative character for 啊 in Taiwan and Hong Kong. | |||
| Japanese | ああ | ||
| The Japanese exclamation "ああ" (ah) can also express resignation or disappointment. | |||
| Korean | 아 | ||
| The Korean word "아" is also used to express surprise or disappointment, similar to the English "oh". | |||
| Mongolian | аан | ||
| The word 'аан' (ah) in Mongolian can also refer to a sigh or exclamation of surprise, pain, or regret. | |||
| Myanmar (Burmese) | ah | ||
| The word "ah" can also be used as an interjection to express surprise, pain, or pleasure. | |||
Ah in South East Asian Languages
| Indonesian | ah | ||
| The word "ah" in Indonesian can also mean "yes" or "right". It can also be used to express surprise or disbelief. | |||
| Javanese | ah | ||
| In Javanese culture, "ah" can also be an exclamation of surprise or annoyance | |||
| Khmer | អេ | ||
| In addition to signifying agreement or understanding, "អេ" can also express surprise or disappointment. | |||
| Lao | ອ້າວ | ||
| The word "ອ້າວ" (ah) can also be a term of address for a male elder or superior, or an exclamation of surprise or wonder. | |||
| Malay | ah | ||
| In Malay, the word "ah" can also be an emphatic particle used to express agreement or surprise. | |||
| Thai | อา | ||
| The Thai word "อา" (ah) can also be used as an honorific prefix for male names. | |||
| Vietnamese | ah | ||
| The word "Ah" (pronounced /aː/ or /ɑː/) can also be used to express surprise or excitement, similar to the English interjection "wow" or "oh". | |||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ah | ||
Ah in Central Asian Languages
| Azerbaijani | ah | ||
| The Azerbaijani word "ah" can be used as a particle to indicate agreement, surprise, or regret, and is derived from the Persian word "āy" | |||
| Kazakh | ах | ||
| The Kazakh word "ах" is also used as an exclamatory interjection expressing surprise, admiration, or regret. | |||
| Kyrgyz | ах | ||
| "Ах" (ah) in Kyrgyz also means "an expression of surprise or admiration". | |||
| Tajik | а | ||
| The Tajik word "а" can also be used as an interjection expressing surprise or awe. | |||
| Turkmen | ah | ||
| Uzbek | ah | ||
| In Uzbek, "ah" can also mean "ouch" or "oww". | |||
| Uyghur | ئاھ | ||
Ah in Pacific Languages
| Hawaiian | ah | ||
| In Hawaiian, “ah” often indicates a pause in speech or an utterance expressing surprise, understanding, or empathy. | |||
| Maori | ah | ||
| In Māori, 'ah' can also mean 'a space or clearing' or 'a point of entry'. | |||
| Samoan | a | ||
| The Samoan word "a" is often used as an interjection to indicate surprise, realization, or assent. | |||
| Tagalog (Filipino) | ah | ||
| The Tagalog word "ah" is cognate with the Malay exclamation "eh" and the Chinese interjection "ā". | |||
Ah in American Indigenous Languages
| Aymara | ah | ||
| Guarani | ah | ||
Ah in International Languages
| Esperanto | ah | ||
| The word "ah" can also be used in Esperanto to mean "ah, ha!" | |||
| Latin | ah | ||
| The Latin word "ah" can also mean "oh" or "alas." | |||
Ah in Others Languages
| Greek | αχ | ||
| The interjection "αχ" can also mean "oh dear" or indicate surprise, pleasure, pain, or grief. | |||
| Hmong | ah | ||
| In the Hmong language, "ah" can also mean "to breathe" or "to sigh". | |||
| Kurdish | ah | ||
| The Kurdish word "ah" can also mean "alas" or "oh dear" and is often used to express disappointment or regret. | |||
| Turkish | ah | ||
| The Turkish interjection "Ah" can also express longing or regret. | |||
| Xhosa | ah | ||
| A more archaic form of the word is "ahee" and is used to describe a sound of admiration or surprise. | |||
| Yiddish | אַה | ||
| The Yiddish word "אַה" ("ah") also has meanings including "but" and "well" | |||
| Zulu | ah | ||
| In Zulu, "ah" also denotes an exclamation of surprise or realization. | |||
| Assamese | আহ | ||
| Aymara | ah | ||
| Bhojpuri | आह के बा | ||
| Dhivehi | އާހް | ||
| Dogri | आह | ||
| Filipino (Tagalog) | ah | ||
| Guarani | ah | ||
| Ilocano | ah | ||
| Krio | ah | ||
| Kurdish (Sorani) | ئاه | ||
| Maithili | आह | ||
| Meiteilon (Manipuri) | ꯑꯍ | ||
| Mizo | ah | ||
| Oromo | ah | ||
| Odia (Oriya) | ଆ | ||
| Quechua | ah | ||
| Sanskrit | आह | ||
| Tatar | ах | ||
| Tigrinya | ኣሕ | ||
| Tsonga | ah | ||