Complete Guide to Interjections in Spanish: Definition, Types and Examples

Interjections are a great way to make your speaking and writing sound more natural. They are often used in informal conversations and in writing.

In this article, we will be learning together what they are, how they are used, and what types of interjections exist in Spanish. 

Let's go!

What are interjections?

Interjections are words or short phrases that allow us to express emotions, reactions or sensations quickly and directly, without having to use long sentences. They are spontaneous and, many times, they are just what we need to say exactly what we feel at that moment! Examples of interjections in Spanish:

• ¡Ay!
• ¡Oh!
• ¡Uf! (Ugh!)
• ¡Vaya! (Wow!)
• ¡Guau! (Wow!)

List of interjections in Spanish

Types of interjections

There are several types of interjections, each used to express different emotions or reactions. Let's review some of the most common types:

Proper interjections.

Proper interjections are words that only function as interjections, that is, they have no meaning other than expressing an emotion or feeling. Examples of proper interjections:

• ¡Ah! Ahora lo entiendo. (Ah! Now I get it.)
• ¡Oh! No esperaba verte aquí. (Oh! I didn't expect to see you here.)
• ¡Ay! Me golpeé el pie. (Ouch! I bumped my foot.)
• ¡Uf! Qué día tan largo. (Phew! What a long day.)
• ¡Bah! No me importa lo que diga. (Bah! I don't care what he/she says.)

Improper interjections

These are interjections that, although they have other meanings, are used as interjections to express emotions. Examples of improper interjections:

• ¡Vaya! No esperaba que llegara tan tarde. (Wow, I didn't expect you to be so late.)
• ¡Dios! Qué grande es este lugar. (God! How big this place is.)
• ¡Cuidado! Hay un coche. (Look out! There's a car.)
• ¡Caramba! Se me olvidaron las llaves. (Oh, my gosh! I forgot my keys.)
• ¡Anda! No sabía que vivías aquí. (Come on! I didn't know you lived here.)

Interjections of surprise

These interjections are used when something surprises us, either positively or negatively. Examples of surprise interjections:

• ¡Guau! Esa película fue increíble. (Wow! That movie was amazing.)
• ¡Oh! ¡Qué bonito lugar! (Oh! What a nice place!)
• ¡Vaya! No esperaba eso. (Wow! I wasn't expecting that.)
• ¡Caray! No puedo creerlo. (Wow! I can't believe it.)
• ¡Anda! ¡Qué coincidencia! (Wow! What a coincidence!)

Interjections of joy

These interjections are perfect for expressing joy, enthusiasm or celebration. Examples of joyful interjections:

• ¡Yupi! ¡Ganamos el partido! (Yay! We won the game!)
• ¡Hurra! ¡Terminamos el proyecto! (Hooray! We finished the project!)
• ¡Bravo! Lo hiciste genial. (Bravo! You did great!)
• ¡Bien! El examen salió como esperaba. (Yay! The test went as expected.)
• ¡Genial! Me encantó el regalo. (Great! I loved the gift.)

Interjections of pain or complaint

When we feel pain or something bothers us, we use these types of interjections. Examples of interjections of pain or complaint:

• ¡Ay! Me duele la cabeza. (Ouch! My head hurts.)
• ¡Auch! Eso me dolió. (Ouch! That hurt.)
• ¡Uy! Eso fue más fuerte de lo que parecía. (Ouch! That was stronger than it sounded.)
• ¡Ayayay! Me golpeé en el dedo. (Ouch! I stubbed my toe.)
• ¡Caramba! ¡Otra vez olvidé las llaves! (Yikes, I forgot my keys again!)

Interjections of anger or displeasure

These interjections are used to express frustration, anger or displeasure. Examples of angry or displeased interjections:

• ¡Uf! No soporto este calor. (Ugh! I can't stand this heat.)
• ¡Bah! Eso no me interesa. (Bah! That doesn't interest me.)
• ¡Caramba! No encuentro mis llaves. (Gee, I can't find my keys.)
• ¡Maldición! Esto no funciona. (Damn! This doesn't work.)
• ¡Rayos! Olvidé mi teléfono. (Damn it! I forgot my phone.)

Greeting or farewell interjections

We use these interjections to greet or say goodbye to someone in a quick and casual way. Examples of greeting or farewell interjections:

• ¡Hola! ¿Cómo estás? (Hello! How are you?)
• ¡Adiós! Nos vemos mañana. (Goodbye! See you tomorrow.)
• ¡Chao! Cuídate mucho. (Bye! Take care of yourself.)
• ¡Ey! ¡Aquí estoy! (Hey! Here I am!)
• ¡Nos vemos! Que te vaya bien. (I'll see you! Have a good day.)

Expression of immediate emotions

They are ideal for showing emotions without the need for long sentences. They are more common in spoken language and in informal situations. They help us communicate in a more natural and approachable way, making our reactions feel authentic. Examples of interjections:

• ¡Ay! Me quemé con el café. (Ouch, I burned myself on the coffee.)
• ¡Guau! Me encantan estos zapatos. (Wow, I love these shoes.)
• ¡Oh! No sabía que ya habías llegado. (Oh! I didn't know you were already here.)
• ¡Uf! Qué alivio, pensé que iba a llover. (Whew! What a relief, I thought it was going to rain.)
• ¡Bah! Ese episodio es repetido. (Bah! That episode is a repeat.)

Writing

In writing, especially in dialogue, interjections add dynamism and realism. They reflect how a person might react in a conversation, making the text feel more alive and authentic. Examples of interjections in writing:

• ¡Ah! Ahora lo entiendo. (Ah! I get it now.)
• ¡Vaya! Me entristece no poder ir a la fiesta. (Wow! I'm sad I can't go to the party.)
• ¡Uf! Ese examen estuvo difícil. (Whew! That test was hard.)
• ¡Ay! Creo que me torcí el tobillo. (Ouch! I think I sprained my ankle.)
• ¡Bravo! ¡Qué actuación tan increíble! (Bravo! What an amazing performance!)

Interjections as questions

Some interjections can function as questions, especially when they express surprise, doubt, or disbelief. These interjections have a rising tone in pronunciation, indicating that it is a question. Examples of interjections as questions:

• ¿Eh? ¿Qué dijiste? (Huh? What did you say?)
• ¿Oh? ¿De verdad te vas a mudar? (Oh? Are you really going to move?)
• ¿Anda? ¿De verdad ganaste la lotería? (Did you really win the lottery?)
• ¿Cómo? ¿No sabías que estaba aquí? (What? You didn't know I was here?)
• ¿Ah? No te escuché bien. (Huh? I didn't hear you right.)

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Common mistakes with interjections

Although interjections seem simple, it is easy to make some mistakes when using them, especially when learning a new language. We will now look at some of the most common mistakes when using interjections and how to avoid them, along with examples.

Confusing proper and improper interjections

A common mistake is to confuse proper interjections (words that have only one function as an interjection) with improper interjections (words that have other meanings). Using the wrong word can lead to confusion. Examples of confusion between proper and improper interjections:

Incorrect: ¡Anda! Nos vemos mañana.  (Come on! See you tomorrow.)

Correct: ¡Adiós! Nos vemos mañana. (Bye! See you tomorrow.)

Incorrect: ¡Uf! Qué hermoso paisaje. (Ugh! What a beautiful landscape.)

Correct: ¡Guau! Qué hermoso paisaje. (Wow! What a beautiful landscape.)

Incorrect: ¡Ay! No me lo esperaba este regalo. (Ouch! I didn't expect this gift.)

Correct: ¡Oh! No me lo esperaba este regalo. (Oh! I didn't expect this gift.)

Excessive use of interjections

Using too many interjections in a conversation or text can make it sound disorganized or unserious. Interjections should be used sparingly so as not to clutter the message. Examples of excessive use of interjections:

Incorrect: ¡Oh! ¡Oh! ¡Oh! ¡Qué emoción! (Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! What a thrill!)

Correct: ¡Oh! ¡Qué emoción! (Oh! What a thrill!)

Incorrect: ¡Oh! ¡Ah! ¡Vaya! Qué sorpresa. (Oh! Ah! Wow! What a surprise.)

Correct:  ¡Vaya! Qué sorpresa. (Wow! What a surprise.)

Incorrect: ¡Uf! ¡Ay! Qué cansancio. (Whew! Ouch! How tiring.)

Correct: ¡Uf! Qué cansancio. (Whew! How tiring.)

Misuse in formal situations

It is very common to use interjections in informal language, but if you find yourself in more formal situations, it is best to avoid them. Using interjections such as ¡Ey! (Hey!) or ¡Uf! (Ugh!) in a professional setting or in a formal letter can be inappropriate. Examples of misuse of interjections in formal situations:

Incorrect: ¡Ey! Gracias por el reporte. (Hey! Thanks for the report.)

Correct: Gracias por el reporte. (Thanks for the report.)

Incorrect: ¡Vaya! No lo sabía. (Wow, I didn't know that.)

Correct:  No estaba al tanto de esa información. (I was not aware of that information.)

Incorrect: ¡Caramba! Eso es mucho trabajo. (Yikes! That's a lot of work.)

Correct: Eso representa una gran carga de trabajo. (That represents a huge workload.)

Summary

Interjections are a vital part of Spanish that allow us to express our emotions at the right time, quickly and briefly. But it is also important to know how to use them appropriately depending on the context. For example, they can be very useful in casual conversations with friends or family.

By practicing every day using the Promova app, you will be able to handle Spanish interjections with increasing ease. Keep practicing, and soon you will be an expert in their use!