あら

also: あらー

あ

ら

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

female term, language, or name

A mild exclamation of surprise, realization, or mild dismay. Strongly associated with female speech, though not exclusively.

まあN3
あら and まあ are both mild exclamations often used by women, but まあ can also express admiration or resignation while あら is limited to surprise or mild dismay.
あれN5
あら and あれ both signal surprise, but あれ conveys stronger surprise or confusion and is not especially feminine, whereas あら is strongly associated with women's speech.
はて
はて is a somewhat old-fashioned exclamation of mild surprise or dismay, while あら is the everyday, often feminine-coded equivalent used in modern conversation.
ありゃ
あら and ありゃ both express sudden surprise, but あら sounds softer and more feminine while ありゃ feels rougher and more casual.

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おやN3
おや is fairly neutral and can be used by anyone, while あら is typically used by women and often expresses stronger surprise or dismay.
まあまあN3
あら and まあまあ can both express mild surprise in feminine speech, but あら is a single sharp exclamation while まあまあ sounds softer and more drawn-out.
やあ
あら expresses surprise and is often associated with women's speech, while やあ is gender-neutral and can express mild surprise or serve as a greeting.
え
あら is a softer, often feminine exclamation of mild surprise, while え can express sharper shock or a need for clarification.
いや
あら is a softer surprise exclamation typically associated with women's speech, whereas いや is more neutral and used by anyone.
なんだ
あら is a softer, often feminine exclamation of mild surprise, whereas なんだ can be used by anyone and often carries a note of anticlimax.
おっと
あら is an exclamation of surprise or mild shock often used by women, while おっと is specifically for minor mistakes or sudden realizations.

ほら
あら is an exclamation of surprise (often used by women), whereas ほら is used to direct someone's attention to something, so the two are easily mixed up despite sounding similar.

A natural exclamation; the exact origin is uncertain.