TransWikia.com

How to best correctly spell this sound?

English Language & Usage Asked by Shane Smiskol on May 22, 2021

Remember back in school (or still in school, like me) when someone got called to the office and all the kids in the class made an ‘ooou’ sound with the intonation slowly rising? Yeah… Anyway, I was just thinking about it, and I was wondering what the best way of spelling it would be so other people would understand how it was said, or pronounced?
Also in music, vocalists might use this sound, but people who interpret the lyrics put something like ‘ohh’ which is definitely not the same.

So what do you think the best way of spelling it would be?

If you don’t know the sound I’m talking about, say ‘you’, but without the ‘y’.
If you’re taking Spanish like me, it’s the Spanish ‘u’.

One Answer

I'd go with ooooh, and let the reader work out the pitch change from context:

"I'm so sick and tired of you always asking me questions, Benjamin! Pack your things and report to the principal. I won't have you in my class." Mr. Smith yelled. Benjamin's class mates mocked him "ooooh" while he quickly packed his things and left.

or

"I'm so sick and tired of you always asking me questions, Benjamin! Pack your things and report to the principal. I won't have you in my class." Mr. Smith yelled. Benjamin felt on top of the world and his class mates cheered him on "ooooh" while he packed his things and left for principal Puddlefrock's office.

Correct answer by Born2Smile on May 22, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP