oddio Italian · revision 37902

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1509}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /odˈdi.o/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound [[af|it|o|dio|t1=oh|t2=God]], an exclamation written as one word.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)^(GDLI|11, 805) Treccani notes that the doubled ⟨dd⟩ reflects the lengthening of the consonant after the interjection in pronunciation, and Sabatini–Coletti derives it from the phrase with [[oh]].^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ GRADIT and Zingarelli date the word to 1509, while Sabatini–Coletti dates it only to 1939.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Besides dismay and regret the exclamation expresses doubt and hesitation, and, said in another tone, surprise or delight.^(Zingarelli 2010)^(GRADIT 2003) It is also used to soften a statement that would sound too firm, as in Pratolini, quoted in the GDLI: “Oddio, certo, nulla di eccezionale” (Well, of course, nothing special).^(GDLI|11, 805)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) The GDLI's other witnesses are 20th-century writers, such as Landolfi and Volponi, whose narrator cries “Oddio” on seeing snow and realizing he is late.^(GDLI|11, 805)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1509 – ''Oddio'' is first recorded.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 1939 – Sabatini–Coletti's date for the word.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Oh God, oh my God: expressing [[m|en|dismay]], worry or regret: ''Oddio, ho perso le chiavi!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Wiktionary)

+ # Expressing doubt or hesitation: ''Oddio… non so che dirti.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Expressing surprise or delight.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # Used to soften a statement, “well”: ''La cena era buona, oddio, niente di speciale.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[dio]]

+ * [[o]]

+ * [[oh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ GRADIT also records it as an invariable masculine noun.^(GRADIT 2003) The spelling ''o Dio'' (or ''oh Dio'') in two words is also used.^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}