eina
/AY-nah/
Beginner
Updated
Eina is South African for “ouch!”, the word that comes out when you stub your toe or touch a hot pan.
What eina means
It’s an instant reaction to pain, big or small. Kids say it, adults say it, and it works for sympathy too: when a friend tells you about their dentist appointment, “eina” means “that sounds painful.”
Examples
- “Eina! I hit my thumb with the hammer.”
- “He walked into the glass door.” “Eina.”
- “Eina, the sand is boiling hot.”
Where it came from
Collins dates eina to the 19th century and traces it through Afrikaans to Khoi, the languages of the Khoikhoi people of southern Africa. It’s pronounced roughly AY-nah.
Related terms
More South African words are in our South African slang guide.
Example sentence
Eina! That door just slammed on my finger.
Similar words
ouch
Notes
Also used to show sympathy.
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