"Nanu?" ist NICHT "Ups!". "Nanu?" is a cry of astonishment. (Often used when something new/interesting/positive happens which has made you curious. You don't use it in situations that unsettled/shocked you.) "Nanu? Was machst du denn hier?" "Huh? What are YOU doing here?" "Nanu? Was ist das denn?" "Huh? What's THAT?" You won't use it in this context: "Nanu? Wer hat Oma brutal ermordet? Vor zwei Minuten hat sie noch gelebt." "Huh? Who has brutally murdered grandma? Two minutes ago she was still alive."

Clicked the wrong button again. Here's the answer... No, it's not like oops. It expresses surprise. "Peter's with Julia now." "Nanu! Isn't he gay?" For oops, say "Ups" which may come out as "Hups" with a short "closed" u. "Hups, Verzeihung." It's a slight bit old-fashioned. I would think it is probably not cool enough for many teenagers. In my world of middle-class young adults it's perfectly ok to use it. I find it a useful word.

Danke, Moritz!

Clicked the wrong button again. Here's the answer... No, it's not like oops. It expresses surprise. "Peter's with Julia now." "Nanu! Isn't he gay?" For oops, say "Ups" which may come out as "Hups" with a short "closed" u. "Hups, Verzeihung." It's a slight bit old-fashioned. I would think it is probably not cool enough for many teenagers. In my world of middle-class young adults it's perfectly ok to use it. I find it a useful word.

No, it's not like oops. It expresses surprise. "Peter's with Julia now." "Nanu! Isn't he gay?" For oops, say "Ups" which may come out as "Hups" with a short "closed" u. "Hups, Verzeihung." It's a slight bit old-fashioned. I would think it is probably not cool enough for many teenagers. In my world of middle-class young adults it's perfectly ok to use it. I find it a useful word.