Everyday Expressions in Spanish: ¡Ay!, ¡Uf!

Welcome to another linguistic adventure!

A few months ago, my sister and I planned a reunion in Mexico. She arrived with her husband, Brad, an American who had just started learning Spanish to communicate better with me.

One night, I invited them to dinner at a traditional Mexican restaurant. Everything was going well until it was time to pay.

I reached into my pocket, and… my wallet was gone!

For a moment, I panicked, but then I remembered that I had put it in my bag. I sighed with relief:

• “Ufff, todo está bien.” ("Phew, everything's fine.")

Brad looked at me confused and asked:

• “Ufff? What does it mean?”

That’s when I explained to him how we use interjections in Spanish to quickly express emotions.

Today, I want to teach you the same thing I explained to Brad, so you can also use these small but powerful expressions.

Are you ready? Let’s get to it! 

Interjections: Small Words That Speak for You

Interjections are short words or sounds that we use to express emotions instantly. Sounds easy, right?

It is!

If you thought you needed long sentences to express what you feel, think again! With these small but powerful everyday expressions in Spanish, expressing emotions will be a piece of cake.

For example, instead of saying:

• "Qué alivio no haber perdido el tren." ("What a relief that I didn’t miss the train.")

You can simply say:

• "Ufff" ("Phew!")

And that’s it!

Extra Tip:

When you use interjections in Spanish, make sure they match the context.

In the previous example, "Ufff" represents that sense of relief when you realize you arrived just in time.

Express Yourself with Emotion: The Most Common Interjections in Spanish

Ready to learn some interjections?

Here are some of the most common ones for you to use in your daily life. Take notes! 

¡Ay!

A classic interjection. Used to express pain, surprise, or fear.

Examples:

• "¡Ay! Me golpeé el dedo del pie con la mesa." ("Ouch! I hit my toe on the table.")
• "¡Ay! Qué susto me diste." ("Oh! You scared me.")

¡Uff!

We’ve seen this one before! Used to express relief or even exhaustion.

Examples:

• "¡Ufff! Aprobé mi examen de español." ("Phew! I passed my Spanish exam.")
• "¡Ufff! Qué día tan largo, necesito descansar." ("Phew! What a long day, I need to rest.")

¡Ajá!

Used when we want to show that we understand what the other person is saying and that we are paying attention.

Examples:

• "¡Ajá! Entonces, ¿qué sucedió después?" ("Aha! So, what happened next?")
• "¡Ajá! Ya comprendo lo que querías decirme." ("Aha! Now I understand what you meant.")

¡Uy!

This is very common in Spanish. It can express surprise, concern, or fear.

Examples:

• "¡Uy! Qué genial, eso no me lo habías contado." ("Wow! That’s awesome, you hadn’t told me that.")
• "¡Uy! Olvidé hacer las compras de la casa." ("Oh no! I forgot to do the grocery shopping.")

¡Ew!

If we’re talking about everyday expressions in Spanish, "Ew" is one of the most popular. We use it to show disgust or repulsion.

Examples:

• "¡Ew! Pisé un chicle." ("Ew! I stepped on gum.")
• "¡Ew! Me dan asco los insectos." ("Ew! Insects gross me out.")

¡Ashhh!

We use "Ashhh" to show disgust, frustration, or annoyance.

Examples:

• "¡Ashhh! Tengo que limpiar la casa ¡de nuevo!" ("Ugh! I have to clean the house again!")
• "¡Ashhh! No me gusta que me mientan." ("Ugh! I don’t like being lied to.")

How to Make Interjections a Natural Part of Your Vocabulary

Want to know how to get even more familiar with Spanish interjections? Here are some useful tips:

1. Prepare Your Anki Cards

One of the advantages of interjections is that they are short, easy to learn, and perfect for flashcards.

Write them down with a brief explanation, an example, and the emotion they express.

For example:

• "¡Uy!" – Used to express surprise or shock.
  • Example: "¡Uy! Casi se me cae el vaso." ("Oh no! I almost dropped the glass.")

Next time you have a free moment—whether in line at the supermarket or waiting for the bus—review these expressions quickly.

You’ll see how fast they stick in your memory!

2. Write Small Dialogues

Did you know that when we write what we learn, we retain information much better?

Write short dialogues using interjections. Something like this:

Example:
A: "¡Ashhh! No me gusta que hagas eso."
B: "¡Uy! No te enojes, solo era una broma."

Create as many dialogues as you can. The more you write and practice, the better!

3. Apply Them in Real Situations

Nothing beats applying what you’ve learned in real-life situations.

This includes talking to others or even talking to yourself.

For example:

• If you see a kid trip on the sidewalk, you could say:
  • "¡Uy! Por poco se cae." ("Oh! He almost fell.")
• Or if you see someone leaving the salon with perfect hair, and suddenly it starts raining, you could say:
  • "¡Ay! Qué mala suerte." ("Oh no! What bad luck.")

Using these everyday Spanish expressions in your daily life will help you master them much faster.

Try it! 

Your Spanish Now Has More Emotion: Time to Practice!

Great job! Now you’re one step closer to speaking like a native Spanish speaker.

Remember, interjections in Spanish are your best allies to sound more natural and express emotions authentically.

Start practicing them today, and soon they’ll naturally become part of your speech.

Go for it, practice, and make them yours!