whew

English

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ʍĭ̥ŭ̥/ [very short and unvoiced] (♪: ^╮ )

• Audio (US)

  (file)

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 youʼre safe! I thought something terrible had happened to you!

   (from fear of being seen) Whew! That cop didnʼt 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): fyew, phew, (chiefly UK) lumme
• (expressing surprise): wow

Related terms

• whoa
• wow

Translations

an expressive sound made indicating the release of one's inner tension

• Estonian: ohh (et)
• German: puh (de), uff (de)
• Hiligaynon: abá
• Ido: hu (io)

• Malay: huh (ms), uhh (ms)
• Navajo: hwááh
• Polish: uf (pl), uff (pl)
• Russian: фуф (ru) (fuf) m

an expression of amazement or surprise

• German: puh (de)
• Hiligaynon: abá

• Malay: huh (ms), uhh (ms)
• Taos: húwi, yúwi

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.

Translations to be checked

• Dutch: oef
• French: ouf

Verb

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

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