Whoa

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /wəʊ/ or IPA: /ʍəʊ/
• US enPR: wō, IPA: /woÊŠ/ or enPR: hwō, IPA: /ʍoÊŠ/
• Rhymes: -əʊ
• Homophones: woe (in accents with the wine-whine merger)

Origin

Whoa (c. 1843) is a variant of woa (c. 1840), itself a variant of wo (c. 1787), from who (c. 1450), ultimately from Middle English ho, hoo (interjection.), probably from Old Norse hó!. Compare German ho, Old French ho ! ("hold!, halt!").

Full definition of whoa

Interjection

1. stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down.Whoa, Nelly!
2. An expression of surprise.Whoa, are you serious?

Usage notes

Another alternate spelling from woa, woah (c. 1856), is common, especially on the internet.

Antonyms

• (stop, said to a horse) giddyup, giddy-up, giddap