Meaning of io | Babel Free

Definitions

1. an exclamation of joy: hurray, hurrah, yay
2. an exclamation of pain: oh, ah, alas
3. an exclamation for getting attention: hey, oi, look, quick

Examples

“illa quidem clāmābat ‘iō, cārissima māter, auferor!’ Indeed, she was crying out, “Oh! mother dearest – I am being taken away!””

(See Persephone. The full context implies a cry of anguish as well as a plea for help from Persephone's mother, Ceres. The alternative ‘‘Help!’’ calls for an imperative such as ‘‘ferte auxilium!’’.)

CEFR level