Oi/oy

[Tom Friedetzky]

It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Thanks,
Tom

[tony cooper]

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Aue usage of this will fool you. "OY", or "OY!" is frequently used as
a in-thing to indicate that a error has been noted. It's a
catch-phrase for the group.

The other "Oy" is from, or a shortening of, or a stand-alone of, the
Yiddish "Oy, gevalt". "Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy". The "Oi!" version
seems a bit rowdier than the "Oy!" version, but that's a personal
impression.

OK, I've tried to help. But, I am neither Jewish nor British, so
someone will probably OY! me because I've made some sort of error.

[Lars Eighner]

Post by tony cooper
"Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection

Oh. I thought it was the British singular first-person pronoun.

Post by tony cooper
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy".

And I thought that was 'Cor blimey!'

[Robert Lieblich]

Post by tony cooper

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Aue usage of this will fool you. "OY", or "OY!" is frequently used as
a in-thing to indicate that a error has been noted. It's a
catch-phrase for the group.
The other "Oy" is from, or a shortening of, or a stand-alone of, the
Yiddish "Oy, gevalt". "Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy". The "Oi!" version
seems a bit rowdier than the "Oy!" version, but that's a personal
impression.
OK, I've tried to help. But, I am neither Jewish nor British, so
someone will probably OY! me because I've made some sort of error.

More a matter of emphasis, Coop. The AUE Oy is a quite proper subset
of the Yiddish Oy. Anyone familiar with Yiddish should have no trouble
deducing instantly what Oy means in an AUE post if used in accordance
with standard AUE practice.

"Oi" is a totally different word, which I understand to be close to
American "Yo." Of course, ICBW (and frequently am).

[tony cooper]

On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:28:35 -0400, Robert Lieblich

Post by Robert Lieblich

Post by tony cooper

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Aue usage of this will fool you. "OY", or "OY!" is frequently used as
a in-thing to indicate that a error has been noted. It's a
catch-phrase for the group.
The other "Oy" is from, or a shortening of, or a stand-alone of, the
Yiddish "Oy, gevalt". "Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy". The "Oi!" version
seems a bit rowdier than the "Oy!" version, but that's a personal
impression.
OK, I've tried to help. But, I am neither Jewish nor British, so
someone will probably OY! me because I've made some sort of error.

More a matter of emphasis, Coop. The AUE Oy is a quite proper subset
of the Yiddish Oy. Anyone familiar with Yiddish should have no trouble
deducing instantly what Oy means in an AUE post if used in accordance
with standard AUE practice.

I don't know from subsets in Yiddish, but that "Oy" has usually - in
my hearing - been used to mean that some sort of irritation or bother
has prompted the use. When combined with "gevalt", it seems to be
used indicate surprise. When combined with "vey", it indicates an
unwelcome surprise.

While I did have two authentic Jewish roommates for three years, I
actually haven't heard "Oy" used that much. Even widening the net to
include the parents of my roommates and their friends, "Oy" just
wasn't a Chicago phrase. Many Jewish/Yiddish terms were used, but
"Oy" was more likely to be heard in a joke about a priest, a rabbi,
and a protestant minister. And a joke told by an Irish Catholic.
Maybe it's a New York thing.

Evan may have a different view. Do we have another (former) Chicago
area Jew?

The aue "OY!" is more indicative of glee than irritation. Perhaps not
exactly glee, but a smug joy in catching someone out.

Post by Robert Lieblich
"Oi" is a totally different word, which I understand to be close to
American "Yo." Of course, ICBW (and frequently am).

Never had British roommates, but that "Oi" seems to be used with a
wider range of meaning: anything from a greeting to an expression of
indignation. "Yo" was "here" or "present" in the military, and a
mumbled grumble when Stallone popularized it. It doesn't seem to
*have* a meaning other than as an attention-getter in the latter
usage. It's seldom a stand-alone like "Oi" (though "Oi" can be
repeated in a series with increasing inflection). It's usually
comma-followed as in "Yo, my man". "Close" I wouldn't say.

[Cece]

Post by tony cooper
On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:28:35 -0400, Robert Lieblich

Post by Robert Lieblich

Post by tony cooper

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Aue usage of this will fool you. "OY", or "OY!" is frequently used as
a in-thing to indicate that a error has been noted. It's a
catch-phrase for the group.
The other "Oy" is from, or a shortening of, or a stand-alone of, the
Yiddish "Oy, gevalt". "Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy". The "Oi!" version
seems a bit rowdier than the "Oy!" version, but that's a personal
impression.
OK, I've tried to help. But, I am neither Jewish nor British, so
someone will probably OY! me because I've made some sort of error.

More a matter of emphasis, Coop. The AUE Oy is a quite proper subset
of the Yiddish Oy. Anyone familiar with Yiddish should have no trouble
deducing instantly what Oy means in an AUE post if used in accordance
with standard AUE practice.

I don't know from subsets in Yiddish, but that "Oy" has usually - in
my hearing - been used to mean that some sort of irritation or bother
has prompted the use. When combined with "gevalt", it seems to be
used indicate surprise. When combined with "vey", it indicates an
unwelcome surprise.
While I did have two authentic Jewish roommates for three years, I
actually haven't heard "Oy" used that much. Even widening the net to
include the parents of my roommates and their friends, "Oy" just
wasn't a Chicago phrase. Many Jewish/Yiddish terms were used, but
"Oy" was more likely to be heard in a joke about a priest, a rabbi,
and a protestant minister. And a joke told by an Irish Catholic.
Maybe it's a New York thing.
Evan may have a different view. Do we have another (former) Chicago
area Jew?
The aue "OY!" is more indicative of glee than irritation. Perhaps not
exactly glee, but a smug joy in catching someone out.

Post by Robert Lieblich
"Oi" is a totally different word, which I understand to be close to
American "Yo." Of course, ICBW (and frequently am).

Never had British roommates, but that "Oi" seems to be used with a
wider range of meaning: anything from a greeting to an expression of
indignation. "Yo" was "here" or "present" in the military, and a
mumbled grumble when Stallone popularized it. It doesn't seem to
*have* a meaning other than as an attention-getter in the latter
usage. It's seldom a stand-alone like "Oi" (though "Oi" can be
repeated in a series with increasing inflection). It's usually
comma-followed as in "Yo, my man". "Close" I wouldn't say.
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

See _The Joys of Yiddish_, by Leo Rosten. Look up "oy," which is
listed along with "oy!" "oy, oy," and "oy-oy-oy." Oy is not a word;
it's a vocabulary! Take a look at "nu" for another! Then look up
"gevalt." (The story about Mme. Rothschild is a gem.)

The literal meaning of "oy vey" is "oh pain."

Cece

[Oleg Lego]

Post by Cece

Post by tony cooper
On Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:28:35 -0400, Robert Lieblich

Post by Robert Lieblich

Post by tony cooper

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Aue usage of this will fool you. "OY", or "OY!" is frequently used as
a in-thing to indicate that a error has been noted. It's a
catch-phrase for the group.
The other "Oy" is from, or a shortening of, or a stand-alone of, the
Yiddish "Oy, gevalt". "Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy". The "Oi!" version
seems a bit rowdier than the "Oy!" version, but that's a personal
impression.
OK, I've tried to help. But, I am neither Jewish nor British, so
someone will probably OY! me because I've made some sort of error.

More a matter of emphasis, Coop. The AUE Oy is a quite proper subset
of the Yiddish Oy. Anyone familiar with Yiddish should have no trouble
deducing instantly what Oy means in an AUE post if used in accordance
with standard AUE practice.

I don't know from subsets in Yiddish, but that "Oy" has usually - in
my hearing - been used to mean that some sort of irritation or bother
has prompted the use. When combined with "gevalt", it seems to be
used indicate surprise. When combined with "vey", it indicates an
unwelcome surprise.
While I did have two authentic Jewish roommates for three years, I
actually haven't heard "Oy" used that much. Even widening the net to
include the parents of my roommates and their friends, "Oy" just
wasn't a Chicago phrase. Many Jewish/Yiddish terms were used, but
"Oy" was more likely to be heard in a joke about a priest, a rabbi,
and a protestant minister. And a joke told by an Irish Catholic.
Maybe it's a New York thing.
Evan may have a different view. Do we have another (former) Chicago
area Jew?
The aue "OY!" is more indicative of glee than irritation. Perhaps not
exactly glee, but a smug joy in catching someone out.

Post by Robert Lieblich
"Oi" is a totally different word, which I understand to be close to
American "Yo." Of course, ICBW (and frequently am).

Never had British roommates, but that "Oi" seems to be used with a
wider range of meaning: anything from a greeting to an expression of
indignation. "Yo" was "here" or "present" in the military, and a
mumbled grumble when Stallone popularized it. It doesn't seem to
*have* a meaning other than as an attention-getter in the latter
usage. It's seldom a stand-alone like "Oi" (though "Oi" can be
repeated in a series with increasing inflection). It's usually
comma-followed as in "Yo, my man". "Close" I wouldn't say.
--
Tony Cooper
Orlando, FL- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

See _The Joys of Yiddish_, by Leo Rosten. Look up "oy," which is
listed along with "oy!" "oy, oy," and "oy-oy-oy." Oy is not a word;
it's a vocabulary! Take a look at "nu" for another! Then look up
"gevalt." (The story about Mme. Rothschild is a gem.)
The literal meaning of "oy vey" is "oh pain."

And here I thought it was "Oh, woe!" and was short for "Oy, vey is
mir!"

[Lars]

Post by Cece
See _The Joys of Yiddish_, by Leo Rosten. Look up "oy," which is
listed along with "oy!" "oy, oy," and "oy-oy-oy." Oy is not a word;
it's a vocabulary! Take a look at "nu" for another! Then look up
"gevalt." (The story about Mme. Rothschild is a gem.)

I don't think I will buy that book.
Couldn't you tell us here what it says on these subjects?


Lars
Stockholm

[LFS]

Post by tony cooper

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

Aue usage of this will fool you. "OY", or "OY!" is frequently used as
a in-thing to indicate that a error has been noted. It's a
catch-phrase for the group.
The other "Oy" is from, or a shortening of, or a stand-alone of, the
Yiddish "Oy, gevalt". "Oi" is a British exclamation or interjection
with the same general usage as the Yiddish "Oy". The "Oi!" version
seems a bit rowdier than the "Oy!" version, but that's a personal
impression.
OK, I've tried to help. But, I am neither Jewish nor British, so
someone will probably OY! me because I've made some sort of error.

Thanks, Tony: I seem to be perfectly qualified take issue with your
comparison between the British and Yiddish versions.

What Tony calls the British "Oi" is generally used to attract attention,
often with an inherently critical implication, as in "Oi! You missed a
bit!" when watching a window cleaner at work. It could perhaps be
expressed more politely as "Excuse me".

The Yiddish "Oy" is, in my experience, an intensifier of some sadness
about the occurrence to which attention is being drawn, as in "Oy, what
did I do to deserve this?" It is far less likely to need an exclamation
mark.

The aue "Oy!" is IMO a rather neat combination of the sense of both
expressions.

I'm not sure that any of that helps the OP, though. I can't imagine what
kind of report would need to include an "Oi" or an "Oy".

[Tom Friedetzky]

Post by LFS
I'm not sure that any of that helps the OP, though.

It does help, thanks very much (to all other posters as well). I was
thinking of the "Oi" as in "Oi, John! Over here!" I was blissfully
unaware of "Oi" and "Oy" not meaning/implying the same.

Post by LFS
I can't imagine what kind of report would need to include an "Oi" or
an "Oy".

There isn't one, really (although I almost wish there were; would be a
nice change from the kind of stuff I'm usually spending my days with).

Tom

[LaReina del Perros]

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

"Oy" and "Oi" are different words. Tell us how you plan to use it, and
we can probably tell you which one you need.

[Josney Faryj]

Post by LaReina del Perros

Post by Tom Friedetzky
It would appear that many of the fine folks here in AUE prefer "Oy" over
"Oi", which I seem to remember to have seen used elsewhere (mumble...
Potter... mumble). Are both spellings acceptable? I need to know for,
er, a report.

"Oy" and "Oi" are different words. Tell us how you plan to use it, and
we can probably tell you which one you need.

'oi' is 'hi' in Portuguese.

[Lars]

On Sat, 08 Sep 2007 04:58:10 -0000, Josney Faryj

Post by Josney Faryj
'oi' is 'hi' in Portuguese.

And it is 'oops' in Swedish. (Actually oj)



Lars
Stockholm