"Oi" has been particularly associated with working class and
In an episode of HBO's The Newsroom, Emily Mortimer's character addresses coworkers with a frustrated “oy!” Mortimer does not play a Brooklyn grandmother; “oy” [or “oi“] is a British term roughly similar to American English “hey!”* I would assume the show's American writer, Aaron Sorkin, added the word to give ...
oi in British English
(ɔɪ ) exclamation. 1. British. a cry used to attract attention, esp in an aggressive way.
Meaning of oi in English
used as a not very polite way of getting someone's attention, especially when you are angry: Oi!
In informal situations, people say or shout 'oi' to attract someone's attention, especially if they are angry. Oi!
“Oi” is not a synonym for “hey”. “Oi” is used to signal that a discussion that neither of you is going to find pleasant is about to take place and in less refined environments there is a very good chance of a punch-up following.
“Oi!” is a very friendly and informal way to say “hi!” It is more commonly used in Brazil than in Portugal and used to greet friends and close colleagues.
So, 'mate' is British slang for a friend. But, like a lot of British slang, mate is a word that is used as much sarcastically as it is sincerely. You're just as likely to call someone 'mate' when they're your friend as when they're annoying you.
Spelling the /oy/ sound
When you hear the /oy/ sound at the end of a word or syllable, use oy (boy, toy, royal). When it is at the start of or inside a word or syllable, use oi (ointment, choice, noise). N.B. Words that contain 'oil' mostly use oi, which often sounds like more than one syllable (boil, coil, toilet).
Variant of the interjection hoy with h-dropping in working class and Cockney speech; first recorded in the 1930s. Compare also unrelated Portuguese oi and Japanese おい (oi).
In Received Pronunciation (Standard British), short-o is typically a open back rounded vowel (IPA ɒ), whereas in American English (General American) it is a open back unrounded vowel (IPA ɑ). Crudely speaking, hot is “hawt” in British English, but “haht” in American English.
"Oh Yeah" is the most common definition for OY on Snapchat, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. OY. Definition: Oh Yeah.
oy in American English
(used to express dismay, pain, annoyance, grief, etc.)
oy (interj.)
Yiddish exclamation of dismay, 1892, American English. Extended form oy vey (1959) includes Yiddish vey, from German Weh "woe" (see woe).
1- Gorgeous This is another common way to describe an attractive female in Britain. If 2- Fit This is probably the most popular slang term in the UK for an attractive female. If you hear a guy say that a girl is “fit,” he's definitely into her and thinks she's hot.
Bruv is short for brother, as in “fellow; buddy.” It's a familiar term typically used between male friends, close relations, or even actual brothers. Bruvver is one regional (especially Cockney) pronunciation of brother in the UK, and bruv is a shortening of that.
In Russian, "oi" ("ой") is often used as an expression of various degrees of surprise. Most of the other stuff on the web are about the English usage of the expression or about the Yiddish "oy vey".
Oi – おーい
Meaning: Oi! Hey! About: This is another casual greeting but used more like a “hey!” to get someone's attention.
In 1980, writing in Sounds magazine, rock journalist Garry Bushell labelled the movement Oi!, taking the name from the garbled "Oi!" that Stinky Turner of Cockney Rejects used to introduce the band's songs. The word is a British expression meaning hey or hey there!