yikes

Etymology
Attested from mid-20th century, perhaps derived from, a hunting call used to urge hounds after a fox, which is attested from 1765–1775, that also is sometimes used as an exclamation of excitement or triumph. Yoicks is perhaps related to the earlier. Hoicks (alternatively hoick, hoic or hoik) is a variant of, which was used as an exclamation of encouragement to hounds hunting deer. Further etymology.

Alternatively, it may be derived from, which is an earlier exclamation of similar usage as yikes (and is often considered to be an alternative form of yikes). Yipes may be derived from, which itself may be derived from the yie sound often used to express pain or dismay, with the -p adding onto it in the same way as and. Or, yipes may be derived from the sound that dogs make.

Or, possibly a conflation of both of the previous.

Synonyms

 * , (Note: "Wow!" can also be used for a pleasant surprise)

Translations

 * Catalan: ,
 * Esperanto:, , , skorzonero
 * Finnish: ,
 * French:
 * German:, o Schreck
 * Hungarian: jesszus,
 * Italian:
 * Maori: aī
 * Portuguese: ,
 * Russian:, , ,
 * Spanish: ,


 * Esperanto:
 * Finnish:, jopas
 * Russian:, , ,