uff

See also: UFF

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʊf/, [ʔʊf]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Etymology 1

An onomatopoeia. Similar to English oof and Dutch oef.

Interjection

uff

1. phew (expression of disgust, tiredness or relief)
2. whew (used before, during or after a mentally or physically strenuous activity, or while thinking of it).

Etymology 2

From Middle High German uf, northern variant of ūf, from Proto-Germanic *up.

Preposition

uff [with dative (indicating location) or accusative (indicating movement)]

1. (dialectal, otherwise obsolete) alternative form of auf

Usage notes

• Found in standard prose until the 18th century. Now used in most Central German dialects and occasionally in colloquial standard German. Especially the adverb druff sees informal standard use (see there).

Further reading

• “uff” in Duden online

Hunsrik

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈuf/
• Rhymes: -uf
• Syllabification: uff

Preposition

uff

1. on, upon (positioned at the top of) [with dative]

   Das Buch leid uffem Disch.

   The book is lying on the table.

   Die Fraa stehd uff de Brick.

   The woman is standing on the bridge.

2. on, onto, up, to (moving to the top of) [with accusative]

   Er lehd das Buch uff de Disch.

   He's putting the book on the table.

   Ich haue dich uff die Aarschbacke!

   I'm going to hit you on the buttocks!

   Meer gehn uffs Fest.

   We're going to the party.

Derived terms

• (uff + dem) uffem
• (uff + das) uffs

Adverb

uff

1. open

   Die Deer is uff.

   The door is open.

Adjective

uff (not comparable)

1. open

   En uffne Deer.

   An open door.

Declension

Declension of uff (see also Appendix:Hunsrik adjectives)

		singular			plural
		masculine	feminine	neuter
weak inflection	nominative	uff	uff	uff	uffne
	accusative	uffne	uff	uff	uffne
	dative	uffne	uffne	uffne	uffne
strong inflection	nominative	uffner	uffne	uffnes	uffne
	accusative	uffne	uffne	uffnes	uffne
	dative	uffnem	uffner	uffnem	uffne

References

• Boll, Piter Kehoma (2021), “uff”, in Dicionário Hunsriqueano Riograndense–Português, 3rd edition (overall work in Portuguese), Ivoti: Riograndenser Hunsrickisch, page 165, column 1

Italian

Interjection

uff

1. an expression of boredom, impatience or annoyance

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

Of onomatopoeic origin.

Compare the similar sound-symbolic interjection huff (“interjection expressing discomfort, dismay, exasperation, etc.”).

Compare Norwegian Nynorsk uff and Danish uf, as well as German uff and English oof (“interjections expressing discomfort, exertion, surprise, dismay, etc.”). The noun is a substantivization of the interjection.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʉfː/, [ʉfː]
• Rhymes: -ʉfː
• Hyphenation: uff

Interjection

uff

1. An exclamation expressing fear, apprehension, unease, or a feeling that something is eerie or alarming; oh, oh dear
   • (Can we date this quote?), Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, Samlede digter-verker, volume VI, page 58:

     uf, du gør mig så ræd!

     Oh, you make me so afraid!

   • 1914, Sigrid Undset, Vaaren, page 117:

     uf Torkild, du skulde snakke om det til en doktor

     Oh, Torkild, you ought to speak to a doctor about it.

   • 1897, Fridtjof Nansen, Fram over Polhavet, volume I, page 120:

     dette er jo samojedernes land. Uf, så ødt og trist

     This is the land of the Samoyeds. Oh, how desolate and sad.

   uff da — an expression of alarm, dismay, concern, sympathy, or regret

2. An exclamation expressing disgust, revulsion, or nausea; ugh
   • 1884, Henrik Ibsen, Vildanden [The Wild Duck], page 96:

     uf der var en stank, slig at –

     Ugh, there was such a stench that—

   • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, De unges forbund [The League of Youth], page 144:

     uf, De er så fæl i Deres mund

     Ugh, you are so foul-mouthed.

   • 1873, Henrik Ibsen, Kærlighedens komedie [Love's Comedy], page 51:

     uf, sligt må næsten kaldes uanstændigt

     Ugh, such a thing must almost be called indecent.

3. An exclamation expressing physical or emotional discomfort, annoyance, dissatisfaction, or disappointment

   Uff, for en trekk! ― Ugh, what a draught!

   • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, De unges forbund [The League of Youth], page 165:

     uf, der er nogen!

     Oh, there is someone there!

   • 1884, Alexander L. Kielland, Fortuna, page 37:

     uf Abraham! – hvor du er utaalelig

     Oh, Abraham! How unbearable you are!

   • 1877, Henrik Ibsen, Samfundets støtter [The Pillars of Society], page 20:

     alting går jo op i smålige materielle beregninger her. Uf!

     Everything here amounts to petty material calculations. Ugh!

   • 1871, Arne Garborg, Mogning og manndom, volume I, page 11:

     [våren] vil bringe mig friheden! – Rigtignok en kort – uf, så kort – frihed

     Spring will bring me freedom! Admittedly a brief—oh, so brief—freedom.

   • 1899, Sfinx, Vi og Voreses, page 169:

     hun stiler lige paa os, uf!

     She is heading straight for us, ugh!

   • 1909, Henrik Ibsen, Efterladte Skrifter [Posthumous Writings], volume I, Sancthansnatten, page 405:

     jeg [vil] lægge mig her i græsset foran Dem … Uf nei! det er ganske vaadt!

     I shall lie down here in the grass before you … Oh no! It is quite wet!

   • 1914, Sigrid Undset, Vaaren, page 194:

     ufnei Lill da, hvad er det du griner for nu da

     Oh no, Lill, what are you laughing at now?

   uff a meg — an expression of dismay, dissatisfaction, or horror; oh dear, goodness me

   1. An exclamation expressing frustration or boredom with someone or something
      • 1891, Arne Garborg, Trætte Mænd, page 18:

        uf, saa kjedelig, som De er

        Ugh, how boring you are.

      • 1934, Nationen, number 82, page 2, column 7:

        det er saa mange som sier: Uff, Bach er da saa tørr

        There are so many who say: “Ugh, Bach is so dry.”

   2. An exclamation expressing regret, sympathy, or compassion; oh, oh dear
      • (Can we date this quote?), Gunnar Heiberg, Samlede dramatiske verker, volume II, page 112:

        uf, det er en skrækkelig vane at jeg maa si alt det jeg mener

        Oh, it is a terrible habit that I have to say everything I think.

      uff ja — an expression of resigned sympathy, sadness, or regret

4. An exclamation expressing a strong or unsatisfied urge, longing, or emotional impulse
   • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, De unges forbund [The League of Youth], page 33:

     uf, doktor, jeg kender mig så stærk ikveld. Jeg må gøre noget!

     Oh, doctor, I feel so strong tonight. I must do something!

Noun

uff n (definite singular uffet, indefinite plural uff, definite plural uffa or uffene)

1. an utterance of uff; an expression of dismay, discomfort, annoyance, or a similar feeling
   • 1873, Henrik Ibsen, Kærlighedens komedie [Love's Comedy], page 133:

     hvermand smiler under ak og uf

     Everyone smiles despite their sighs and groans.

   • 2006 April 8, Adresseavisen, page 44:

     tenk hvor mange som går inn i arbeidsdagen med et uff

     Think how many people begin the working day with an “uff”.

Usage notes

• The precise emotion expressed by uff depends strongly on the context and intonation. It is generally a mild interjection rather than a strong profanity.

Derived terms

• uff da (“interjection expressing dismay, concern, sympathy, etc.”)

Related terms

• huff (“similar sound-symbolic interjection”)

References

• “uff” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “uff” in Norwegian Academy Dictionary (NAOB).

Pennsylvania German

Preposition

uff

1. on

Polish

Etymology

Natural expression.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈuff/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -uff
• Syllabification: uff

Interjection

uff

1. whew (expression of relief)
2. whew (expression from strenuous labour)

Further reading

• “uff”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[2] (in Polish)

Tarifit

Root
f-f‎ (wetting)
2 terms

Etymology

Inherited from Proto-Berber.

Pronunciation

• (Nador) IPA^(key): [ʊfː]
• Syllabification: uff
• Rhymes: -ʊfː

Verb

uff (verbal noun tuffett, Tifinagh spelling ⵓⴼⴼ) (intransitive)

1. to get wet
2. (stative) to be wet

   Synonym: bzeg

3. to swell
4. (stative) to be swollen
5. to inflate
6. (stative) to be inflated
7. to protrude
8. (stative) to be protruding
9. to be angry at [with x]

Conjugation

Conjugation of uff

aorist perfective negative perfective imperfective negative imperfective participle yuffen yuffen yuffen yettuffen yettuffen singular plural 1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person aorist m uffeɣ tuffed yuff nuff tuffem uffen f tuff tuffent uffent perfective m uffeɣ tuffed yuff nuff tuffem uffen f tuff tuffent uffent negative perfective m uffeɣ tuffed yuff nuff tuffem uffen f tuff tuffent uffent imperfective m ttuffeɣ tettuffed yettuff nettuff tettuffem ttuffen f tettuff tettuffent ttuffent negative imperfective m ttuffeɣ tettuffed yettuff nettuff tettuffem ttuffen f tettuff tettuffent ttuffent aorist imperative m uff uffem, uffet f uffent imperfective imperative m ttuff ttuffem, ttuffet f ttuffent injunctive m nuffet f nuffent

References

• Serhoual (2002)
• Abarrou (2024)

Tashelhit

Etymology 1

Etymology tree

Proto-Afroasiatic

Proto-Berber

Tashelhit uff

Inherited from Proto-Berber, from Proto-Afroasiatic, ultimately of onomatopoeic origin.

Cognate with Tarifit uff, Ghadames of (“to swell, blow up”) and Zenaga yoˀf (“to be swollen”); Proto-Chadic *fVˀ/w/y- (“to blow, to dry”); Proto-East-Cushitic *ˀuf(u)f- (“to blow”) and Agaw *ǝf y- (“to blow”).

Verb

uff (imperfective tuff, Tifinagh spelling ⵓⴼⴼ, Arabic spelling اوفّ)

1. to swell

   اوفّنت تورين نّس. ― uffnt turin nns. ― his lungs swelled (with fear).

2. (stative) to be swollen
3. to pout, to sulk
4. to become breathless

Derived terms

• suff (“to inflate”)
• uff (“breast”)

Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Berber [Term?]. Synchronically, possibly related to uff (“to swell”).

Noun

uff m (plural uffan, Tifinagh spelling ⵓⴼⴼ, Arabic spelling اوفّ)

1. breast, nipple

   Synonym: tabubbat

   شركن وفّ. ― Crkn uff ― They suckled at the same breast.

See also

• admr (“chest”)

References

• Stroomer, Harry (2025), Dictionnaire berbère tachelḥiyt-français — Tome 4 T–Ẓ (Handbook of Oriental Studies – Handbuch der Orientalistik; 188/4) (in French), Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, →DOI, →ISBN, page 2856b

Volga German

Preposition

uff

1. on