aue
A Maori interjection borrowed into New Zealand English, used to express dismay, sorrow, or commiseration — roughly equivalent to 'oh no,' 'alas,' or 'dear me.' Used in New Zealand in both Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori) speech when expressing empathy or mild distress.
Definitions
A Maori interjection borrowed into New Zealand English, used to express dismay, sorrow, or commiseration — roughly equivalent to 'oh no,' 'alas,' or 'dear me.' Used in New Zealand in both Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori) speech when expressing empathy or mild distress. Part of the everyday Maori vocabulary that has permeated New Zealand English.
'Aue, what a mess,' she said when she saw the state of the kitchen.
Comments
(NZ) , oh dear; dear me.
Comments
Have a better definition?
Add your own interpretation of "aue".
🗺️About Regional & Other slang
Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.
See all Regional & Other slang on Slangora.
Tags
Other words near "aue" (A)
Browse all slang words starting with A.
Related terms
People also read
Semantically related
- 61%
A New Zealand informal term, borrowed from Maori, meaning annoyed, irritated, or fed up. Used freely in New Zealand English across communities as a way of expressing mild to moderate frustration. Part of the everyday Maori vocabulary that has permeated New Zealand English speech.
- 61%
(idiomatic, AU, NZ, UK, dated, US, Canada) An expression of surprise.
- 59%
(AU, colloquial) Useless, no good.
- 59%
A Scottish interjection equivalent to 'well' or 'well then', used to introduce a concession, resigned acceptance, or conversational transition. It carries the flavour of someone shrugging off a difficult situation. Characteristic of Scots dialect speech and frequently encountered in Scottish literature and poetry.