Oof is an exclamation of discomfort or sympathy. It is a sound. It is not a word. It is a reaction. You say it when someone falls. You say it when someone fails. You say it when something is awkward. It is a small groan. It is a shared pain. It is common in gaming and online culture.

Oof comes from the sound of a punch in old video games. It was popularized by the game Roblox. It became a meme. It is now used everywhere. It is a way to say, "That hurt." It is a way to say, "I feel that." It is a small word. It is a big feeling.

Related exclamations

• Yikes: alarm or dismay.
• Ouch: physical pain.
• F: pay respects, from Call of Duty.
• RIP: rest in peace, for a loss.

Oof is not for formal settings. It is for friends, for games, for moments of secondhand embarrassment. It is a small sound. It is a human sound. It says, "I saw that, and I felt it." That is a good thing. Empathy is a good thing. Oof is empathy in four letters.