Hebonics

Please ‘splain that one to the Yiddish challenged amongst us (me).

Oy is the Yiddish equivalent of “oh” and gevalt means “violence” or “force.” Thus, oy gevalt (“oh violence”) would be a cry for help in an emergency.

It has further been expanded to be an expression of wonder at anything disastrous. It is perfectly normal to say, “Oy gevalt, my cake flopped again!” even though there is no violence and not much of an emergency.

Well, that's certainly one meaning that you cherry picked Walter.

Generally though, people don't mean it in the way you are saying and has nothing to do with violence.

snood wrote:

Please ‘splain that one to the Yiddish challenged amongst us (me).

Oy gevalt is pretty much the same as saying "oy vey"

Basically saying Woe is me.

However, you know, driving a Volt....

I already did snood.

chai2 wrote:

snood wrote:

Please ‘splain that one to the Yiddish challenged amongst us (me).

Oy gevalt is pretty much the same as saying "oy vey"

Basically saying Woe is me.


However, you know, driving a Volt....

Oy, sorry.

From my perspective, there are four degrees of oy.