ah Italian · revision 37698

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=1276, Guido Guinizzelli}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈa/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ah''' (interjection; as a noun, masculine invariable)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ The spelling ''ha'' is found in Old Italian, and Zingarelli still gives it as rare.^(TLIO)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an onomatopoeic interjection, a natural cry.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) DEI compares [[la|ah]] and [[m|la|ā]], cries of strong emotion.^(DEI|101) The LEI calls it a primitive interjection and sets it beside the Latin word, [[fro|a]] (11th century), [[m|fro|ha]] (from about 1170) and [[sc|ah]].^(LEI|1, 1387)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in Guido Guinizzelli in 1276, as a cry of longing, painful regret or amazement.^(TLIO) DELI's first record is in Guittone d'Arezzo, before 1294, expressing wonder, joy, relief or pain.^(DELI 1999)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the interjection also opened a prayer, an invocation or a curse, and it could ask a question.^(TLIO) Tommaseo–Bellini observed that it most often expresses pain, since strong feelings, even pleasant ones, end in pain.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861) The Italian dialects of Switzerland have ''ah'' and reinforced forms such as ''ábah'' in Bregaglia.^(LEI|1, 1387) Repeated, ''ah ah'' imitates laughter, often mocking, and in speech to children it warns against doing something.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1276 – Guido Guinizzelli uses ''ah''.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1294 – Guittone d'Arezzo uses it.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1562 – Venuti records the form ''vah''.^(LEI|1, 1387)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Expresses, according to tone and context, [[m|en|surprise]], joy, relief, pain, doubt, anger, desire or sarcasm: ''Ah, sei tu!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # ''(repeated)'' Imitates laughter, often sarcastic: ''Ah ah, molto spiritoso.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(repeated)'' Warns or scolds, especially a child.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(regional)'' Urges on animals.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ===Noun===

+ # ''(masculine, invariable)'' A cry of ''ah''.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ahi]]

+ * [[oh]]

+ * [[eh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Written ''Ah'', it is also the symbol of the [[m|en|ampere-hour]].^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}