Whoops is what you say when you've just made a small mistake or accident. When you knock over a glass of water, trip on your shoelace, or realize you've walked into the wrong classroom, whoops is the natural sound that pops out of your mouth.

The word acknowledges that something went wrong, but in a light, not-too-serious way. You wouldn't say whoops after breaking something valuable or hurting someone's feelings. Those situations call for a real apology. Whoops is for minor mishaps: dropping your pencil, bumping into someone in the hallway, or accidentally clicking the wrong button on a computer.

People also use whoops when they catch themselves about to make a mistake. If you're pouring juice and suddenly notice the cup is almost overflowing, you might say whoops as you stop just in time. Sometimes adults say it playfully when they've done something silly, like forgetting where they put their keys for the third time that day.

The word has a bouncy, informal sound that matches its meaning perfectly. It's one of those expressions that lightens the mood after a small blunder, turning a potentially awkward moment into something harmless and even a bit funny.