わあ

also: わあっ · わっ

わ

あ

JLPTN5Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

wow!; oh!; eek!

Expresses surprise, amazement, or sudden realization. Can be positive or negative depending on context.

きゃっ sense 1
きゃあ is typically a shrill scream of fright or surprise, while わあ can express a broader range of surprise from shock to delight.
やった sense 2
やった is used specifically to cheer a success or good news, whereas わあ (in its joyful sense) is a more general exclamation of excitement.
えーん sense 3
えーん mimics a child's whimpering cry, while わあ (in its crying sense) is a louder, more sudden wail.
ふう
わあ is a general exclamation of surprise or delight, while ふう in its excited sense is more like a celebratory 'whoo' after achieving something.

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わっ
わあ typically expresses surprise or admiration (わあ、きれい), while わっ is sharper and more sudden, used for startling someone or reacting to shock or frustration.
うわ
わあ usually expresses delight or admiration, whereas うわ tends to express negative surprise, shock, or dismay.

わっと
わっと is an adverb describing crying or shouting suddenly and loudly, while わあ is the interjection itself.

わあUsage53%
Standard kana spelling for the interjection.
わっUsage32%
Shortened emphatic variant, common in casual speech.
わあっUsage14%
Emphatic variant with a glottal stop, often used for sudden exclamations.
ワアUsage<1%
ワアッUsage<1%

A natural exclamation; the origin is uncertain, likely sound-symbolic.