aiyo

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Tamil ஐயோ (aiyō), Hindi अइयो (aiyo), Sinhalese [script needed] (ayiyō).

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /aɪˈjoʊ/, /ˈəijoʊ/

Interjection

aiyo

  1. (India, informal) expressing distress, regret, fear
    • 1886, Chamber's Journal. 20 Mar. 184/1:
      'Are you crying for your father?' 'Aiyo, aiyo!' wailed the girl. 'I shall never see him again!'
    • 1913, L. Woolf, Village in Jungle ii. 28:
      Aiyo! aiyo! My little Podi Sinho!
    • 1971, Fashion Panaroma (Ceylon) Apr. 31:
      'Aiyo its our Kalu' they all cried.
    • 1982, R.K. Narayan, Tiger for Malgudi (1984) 119:
      Aiyo! Never thought our beloved principal will come to this end.
    • 2009, S. Manickavasagam, Power of Passion 218:
      Vijaya touched Rajam's forehead and exclaimed, Aiyo. She is running very high temperature.

Further reading
  • Aiyo at the Oxford Dictionary

Anagrams
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