Oy vey is a traditional Yiddish exclamation of dismay, annoyance and weary disbelief, long used in Jewish humor and everyday speech to kvetch about misfortune. The phrase became a familiar comedic shorthand in American film and television, understood even by audiences who do not speak Yiddish. As a short isolated clip it spread on soundboards and in meme edits because the meaning is instantly clear from the tone alone. Creators still reach for it when a moment calls for exaggerated complaining that stays funny rather than hostile.