New words included in September addition of OED.How many times in a day do you use the word 'aiyoh!'? And what about 'aiyah'?
There won't be a single Keralite who wouldn't have used these words randomly every day. For them, these expressions of surprise, pain or regret come naturally.
But, why are we making a big deal of them now if we are using it every day?
Well, you can find these south Indian words in your new Oxford dictionary. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the Bible of correct English, has included 'aiyoh' and 'aiyah' in its latest addition.
These words have a meaning depending on the context. According to the dictionary, these words are used to express distress, regret, pain, surprise or grief. In other words, they are words used in southern India to mean 'Oh No!' or 'Oh dear!'.
OED also states that the words originated from China as 'aiyoh' is Mandarin and 'aiyah' comes from Cantonese dialects of Chinese language.
The OED is updated four times a year and these words were included in September 2016.
