Ouch is what you say when something suddenly hurts. When you stub your toe on the coffee table, step on a Lego brick, or get a paper cut, ouch! usually comes out before you even think about it.

The word captures that sharp, unexpected moment of pain. You might whisper it (ouch) for something minor like pulling a hangnail, or yell it (OUCH!) when you accidentally touch a hot stove. It's one of those words that sounds like what it means: short, sharp, and immediate.

People also use ouch for emotional pain or embarrassment. If your friend strikes out with the bases loaded, you might say “ouch” sympathetically. When someone shares a really low test score, another student might wince and say ouch to acknowledge how disappointing that feels. In this way, the word can show empathy, recognizing when something painful has happened to someone else, whether it's physical or not.