Meaning
Used to express relief of tension, fatigue, or surprise.
Etymology
Origin: Spanish
Attested since the early 17th century. An onomatopoeia for rapid exhalation, as one may make when a trying situation is over, or in order to get rid of an unpleasant odour. Compare Scots feuch, Spanish fu, Czech fuj, and many more such forms.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
whewyuck
NYT Puzzle Appearances
No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2018, 2019, 2020.