50 Interesting Ways to Say “Oh My God!” in English

Last updated on December 7, 2024 by Isabella Claire

“Oh my god!” is one of those phrases that we hear countless times in an average week. It sounds so simple, but what other ways can you say it? These alternatives will be perfect for when you need to sound more formal or have a “less-religious” sentiment.

Oh My God!

Ways to Say "Oh My God!" Pin
Ways to Say “Oh My God!” – Created by 7ESL

When Do We Say “Oh My God”?

We say “oh my god” when we are extremely surprised, shocked or surprised at something shocking.

Example: “Oh my god! I just tripped on the stairs!” or “Oh, my god! We all fell down the slide!”

List of Ways to Say “Oh My God”

  1. Ay Caramba!
  2. Oh Good Lord!
  3. Whoa!
  4. Cor Blimey!
  5. Holy Christ!
  6. Oh Gosh!
  7. Oh My Golly Gosh!
  8. Oh God!
  9. Oh For Crying Out Loud!
  10. Oh Dear!
  11. Oh Crikey!
  12. For Goodness Sake!
  13. Golly Gosh!
  14. Oh My Word!
  15. Oh Golly!
  16. Gooness Gracious Me!
  17. Aw Shucks!
  18. Dear God!
  19. Oh Bother!
  20. Oh Cripes!
  21. Oh My Stars!
  22. Oh My Life!
  23. Oh My Days!
  24. For Heaven’s Sake!
  25. Oh Jesus!
  26. Blimey!
  27. Ah, Bejeezus!
  28. For the Love of God!
  29. God Almighty!
  30. Oh No!
  31. Gosh Almighty!
  32. Good Grief!
  33. Oh Sugar!
  34. Oh My Buddha!
  35. Deary Me!
  36. Well I Never!
  37. Oh Deary Me!
  38. Good Lord!
Ways of Saying “Oh My God!” Pin
Ways of Saying “Oh My God!” – Created by 7ESL

How to Say “Oh My God ” in English

The phrase is said with a raised voice and in a very surprised state of mind. “Oh my god” is sometimes shortened to “Omigod!”

Formal Ways to Say “Oh My God”

These phrases are good for formal documents, letters, or writing that you don’t want to sound as informal or conversational.

1. Oh My Goodness

This phrase is not really a variation of “Oh My God.” It is simply a replacement when you don’t want to include the name of the Deity in the conversation. It can also be used as a sign that you’re taken aback by something. For example, if someone falls, they will say “oh my goodness!” and then get back up.

2. Gosh

You can use this word similar to “gosh” when you’re a little shocked or surprised at something. It’s similar to the previous phrase in that it’s an older and a bit less commonly used word than the other two. It could be used in an everyday situation like, “Oh my gosh! I just spilled coffee all over myself.” or in a more formal setting, “Oh my gosh! You’re so beautiful! I’ve never been able to get my eyes off you before.”

If you may want to use a more formal alternative to “Oh my God!”, here are some options:

  • Goodness gracious: This phrase is a polite and formal way to express surprise or shock. It’s often used in more formal settings and is a good alternative to “Oh my God!”.
  • Dear me: This phrase is a bit old-fashioned, but it can be a good alternative to “Oh my God!” in formal settings. It’s a polite way to express surprise or shock.
  • Good heavens: This phrase is a bit old-fashioned, but it’s a polite and formal way to express surprise or shock. It’s a good alternative to “Oh my God!”.
  • My word: This phrase is a bit more formal than “Oh my God!”. It’s a polite way to express surprise or shock.

Informal Ways to Say ” Oh My God “

1. Gosh Darnit

This phrase is another variation of “Oh My Goodness.” It’s slightly more common but still a bit old-fashioned. You can also use it to say you’re a little surprised or shocked. For example: “What? You’re leaving already? Gosh darnit!”

2. Oh My

This is similar to the previous phrase except that it’s a lot less formal compared to the other two. You can use this phrase in a casual or informal setting if you want to sound human and a bit whimsical when you say, “Oh my goodness! I just spilled coffee all over myself.” or, “Oh my I forgot to text her what time we should meet! I’m freaking out.”

3. Omg

This is another pretty common one, and it is completely informal. You can say this one in everyday situations or when you are writing to a friend. It’s pretty short and sounds good in any situation.

Here are some other informal alternatives to “Oh my God!”:

  • Wow!: This is another popular expression of surprise. It can be used to express amazement or admiration.
  • No way!: This expression is often used when someone is surprised by something they didn’t think was possible.
  • Holy cow!: This is a more lighthearted expression of surprise. It can be used to express amazement or disbelief.
  • Are you kidding me?: This expression is often used when someone is surprised by something they find hard to believe.

Slang (or Idiom) Ways to Say “Oh My God”

1. Gack

This one is a word that isn’t familiar to most people, but it is used quite often as an alternative to ” oh my god .” It’s something like the word “gargle,” but it’s mainly used in the medical field. It has its origins in the Greek language where it means “to cough violently” or “to choke.” You can use this one if you want to sound more angry or bitter about something.

2. Gah

This is another word that is a bit of a slang. It is basically the same as “gack” except it sounds like people say “gas,” which they might be saying in a harsher tone. If you use this one, you can assume that this person’s attitude is more harsh or bitter. For example: “Ahh! I hate when I have to do homework! Gah!”

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