Meaning & use
awww
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Meanings
interjectioninformal
Used to show that you find something sweet, touching, or cute, often in a soft or affectionate way.
Grammar: Stands alone as a reaction; often followed by a sentence or emoji: Awww, look at the puppy!
Patterns
- awww over someone/something
- awww at something
Awww, that baby is so adorable!
She sent me a photo of her new kitten, and I just went awww.
Awww, you remembered my birthday!
interjectioninformal
Used to express sympathy or mild disappointment, often when someone shares bad news.
Grammar: Often followed by a clause or 'that's too bad': Awww, I'm sorry to hear that.
Patterns
- awww, that's too bad
- awww, I'm sorry
Awww, you didn't get the job? That's really tough.
Awww, poor you—that sounds like a horrible day.
Awww, I wish I could help.
Common combinations
- awww, that's so cute
- Awww, that's so cute! Look at those tiny shoes.
- awww, I'm sorry
- Awww, I'm sorry you're feeling sick.
- go awww
- Everyone went awww when the bride walked in.
- awww over
- The whole office awwwed over the new puppy photos.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: awww or awe? awww or aw?
awww vs awe
'Awe' is a noun meaning a feeling of great respect and wonder, while 'awww' is an interjection showing affection or sympathy.
awww vs aw
Both are interjections, but 'aw' is more general and often used for disappointment; 'awww' is longer and softer, usually for cuteness.
Practice
Which situation would most naturally make someone say 'Awww'?
Choose one answer.
'Awww' expresses tenderness or cuteness, so a sleeping puppy fits. A scary movie might make you gasp, not say 'Awww'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “awww”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.