ouai is an exclamatory particle marking lament, warning, or condemnation directed toward persons, places, or coming distress.

As a particle, it introduces cries of lament or pronouncements of warning and condemnation: directed at cities and religious leaders, at those responsible for betrayal or stumbling, and at people facing coming distress or judgment.

1. Exclamatory particle introducing lament or warning · dominant

   The supplied morphology identifies the form as a Particle (and once as an Interjection), functioning at the head of pronouncements directed toward an addressee or situation. In Matthew 23:13 the APB renders a denunciation of scribes and Pharisees who shut the kingdom before people; in Luke 21:23 it renders distress for pregnant and nursing women in those days; and in Revelation 8:13 it introduces a threefold cry toward those dwelling on the earth before remaining trumpet blasts.

   Matthew 23:13Luke 21:23Revelation 8:13Mark 14:21Revelation 18:191 Corinthians 9:16

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the particle with “Woe,” including repeated cries in Revelation 8:13 and Revelation 18:19. This reflects the clauses' presentation rather than a precise token-by-token rendering.