arrey

See also: Arrey

English

Alternative forms

• arré
• arre

Pronunciation

• (India) IPA^(key): /əˈreː/, /ˈə.reː/, [ɐ.ɾeː]
• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʌɹ.əɪ/, /əˈɹeɪ/
• Homophone: array (one pronunciation)

Interjection

arrey

1. (India) Expressing surprise or alarm; hey. [from 19th c.]
   • 1893, Rudyard Kipling, “In the Rukh”, in Many Inventions, London: Macmillan and Co., page 206:

     ‘Nay, I cannot move another step,’ he howled. ‘I am old and my turban is lost. Arré! Arré!’

   • 2007, Sonja Chandrachud, The Potion of Eternity:

     The dhoti-clad Indian mystic's anger simmered, dangerously close to exploding. 'Arrey! This is just not done in our Indian culture!'

   • 2013, Shreya Mathur, But Ira Said:

     'Arrey baba! How much will you study?' Ma strode into my room with a glass of Bournvita.

   • 2023, Radhika Iyengar, Fire on the Ganges, Fourth Estate, page 26:

     The boy screamed, ‘Arre, arre, don't! Don't you dare!’

Anagrams

• yarer, yrare

Manx

Etymology

From Old Irish aire f (“act of guarding; attention”); cognate with Irish and Scottish Gaelic aire (“attention, heed, notice”).

Noun

arrey m (genitive singular arrey, no plural)

1. caution, care, attention
2. vigilance, invigilation, reserve, surveillance
3. guard, watch, guard post, lookout

Antonyms

• neuarrey (“inattention, carelessness”)