WOOOOOAAAAAAH

It is a fifteen second recording of a single person holding a loud woah wail without breaking. The sustained pitch and volume make it sound theatrical rather than realistic, which is why editors use it as an exaggerated reaction to surprising or impressive moments on screen.

The clip runs for about fifteen seconds, which is much longer than most reaction screams. That length is the point, because it lets you keep the sound playing under a freeze frame, slow zoom or long fall while the humour builds from the reaction refusing to end.

Use it when the reaction needs to be bigger than the event itself, like a shocking reveal, an unbelievable skill shot or a long slow motion fail. Avoid serious or sad scenes, where the over the top wail would undercut the mood instead of adding comedy.