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Greek · Reactions & Outbursts

πω πω

po po

poh POH · /ˈpo ˈpo/

Wow / oh my / good grief — astonishment, dismay, or admiration.

1/5 Grandma-safe

mild, playful; fine on daytime TV

Literally

"(exclamatory sound)"

Word-for-word — which is rarely what it means.

How to use it

Pure exclamation, no literal meaning, and the sound of the Greek face reacting to everything. Double it or triple it to scale the emotion: "πω πω πω!" at a spectacular sunset, a shocking price, or a car crash. Can be delight, horror, or sympathy depending on tone. Utterly Grandma-safe — this is one you can use freely from day one. Often stretched to "πωπωπώ" when genuinely overwhelmed.

Heard in the wild

Πω πω, τι ζέστη σήμερα!

Oh my, it's so hot today!

Where it lands

Greece & Cyprus (universal)

Quick answers

What does "πω πω" mean?
In Greek, "πω πω" means "Wow / oh my / good grief — astonishment, dismay, or admiration.". Literally it's "(exclamatory sound)". Pure exclamation, no literal meaning, and the sound of the Greek face reacting to everything. Double it or triple it to scale the emotion: "πω πω πω!" at a spectacular sunset, a shocking price, or a car crash. Can be delight, horror, or sympathy depending on tone. Utterly Grandma-safe — this is one you can use freely from day one. Often stretched to "πωπωπώ" when genuinely overwhelmed.
Is "πω πω" offensive?
It's on the mild end — 1/5 (Grandma-safe) on the Punch-o-Meter. mild, playful; fine on daytime TV.
How do you pronounce "πω πω"?
Say it "poh POH" — capitals mark the stressed syllable. In IPA: ˈpo ˈpo.

Related in Greek

έλα ρε éla re EH-lah reh Come on! / No way! / You're kidding — disbelief, protest, or delight depending on tone. τι φάση ti fási tee FAH-see What's going on? / What the hell? / What's the deal? ωχ och okh Uh-oh / oops / oh no. τι λες ρε ti les re tee LESS reh What are you talking about?! / No way! / You can't be serious. απίστευτο apísteuto ah-PEE-stef-toh Unbelievable / incredible — in wonder or in outrage. τι στο διάολο ti sto diáolo tee stoh THYAH-oh-loh What the hell / what the devil.

The same idea, elsewhere

Via concepts like "Unbelievable".

how to say "Unbelievable" →

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