How to pronounce ouch
Say it like OWCH. Ouch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ouch. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OWCH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ouch pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OWCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of ouch
American and British speakers say ouch in essentially the same way: /aʊtʃ/ in the US and /aʊtʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: OWCH.
What does ouch mean?
- An expression of one's own physical pain.“Ouch! You stepped on my toe! That hurt!”
- An expression in sympathy at another's pain.“Ouch! Her sunburn looks awful.”
- A reply to an insult seen as savage (frequently one that is tongue-in-cheek or joking).“Ouch. How could you say that?”
- Something that causes discomfort or pain.
- To exclaim "ouch!" in discomfort or pain.
Where does ouch come from?
Uncertain. Some sources say the interjection is attested since 1838 (and specifically in American English) and derives ultimately from German autsch, perhaps specifically via Pennsylvania German outch (“cry of pain”), as early attestations
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying ouch
How do you pronounce ouch?
Say OWCH. The American pronunciation is /aʊtʃ/. In British English it is /aʊtʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ouch?
Ouch is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: OWCH.
Do Americans and Brits say ouch the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /aʊtʃ/ and the British form is /aʊtʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.