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Old 16-Nov-2003, 10:30
Raddox
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Default question about an word/exclamation

I'm a Swede that have been having a Belarussian exchange student at home for almost a week now, which means I've been speaking a lot of english...
My friends say that I have an almost exaggerated british accent.

Anyway, this question might sound a bit stupid. But I've noticed that I usually put in some "oi" when speaking every now and then.
Sometimes I use it as an "aye" but mostly as a word to get attention
Examples:
"Oi! get over here"
"Oi, I agree"
"Oi, it goes like this..."
I don't know where I've picked up this word, or if it even exist in the english language.
So that's my question: Is there such a word/exclamation in English and is it commonly used, or is it only something I've made up? :D
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Old 16-Nov-2003, 11:29
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Default Re: question about an word/exclamation

"Oi! get over here"
"Oi, I agree"
"Oi, it goes like this..."

The word "oi" is an interjection used to attract attention. It's informal and comparable to American English "hey". Although its origin is unknown, I suspect it came from the words "I say", with "I" having been prounced as [oi] in Cockney.

:D

By they way, "oi" is also an interjection used to attract attention in Japanese. It's informal speech.
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Old 16-Nov-2003, 14:36
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I believe that oy is an English borrowing from Yiddish and that it is mostly used in Jewish communities, but it appears to be catching on in other places.

:)
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Old 16-Nov-2003, 14:39
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alright, thanks
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Old 17-Nov-2003, 11:15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee
I believe that oy is an English borrowing from Yiddish and that it is mostly used in Jewish communities, but it appears to be catching on in other places.

:)
Hmm. He just schelpt away. Oy evay
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Old 17-Nov-2003, 17:11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Casiopea
Quote:
Originally Posted by RonBee
I believe that oy is an English borrowing from Yiddish and that it is mostly used in Jewish communities, but it appears to be catching on in other places.

:)
Hmm. He just schelpt away. Oy evay
:wink:
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