# golly

> English word · Interjection · IPA /ˈɡɒli/ · frequency rank #41,150

## Definitions
1. A mild expression of surprise or enthusiasm.

## Etymology
Euphemism for God, dating from the 18th century. Possibly a compaction of “God′s body”.

## Easily confused with
- **gull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gull)
- **gory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gory)
- **goofy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-goofy)
- **gould** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gould)
- **gully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gully)
- **goody** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-goody)
- **gulls** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gulls)
- **gooey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gooey)
- **Gordy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-gordy)
- **googly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golly-vs-googly)
- **GOL** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gol-vs-golly)
- **gold** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gold-vs-golly)
- **goal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goal-vs-golly)
- **golf** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golf-vs-golly)
- **gill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gill-vs-golly)
- **gall** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/gall-vs-golly)
- **goals** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/goals-vs-golly)
- **godly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/godly-vs-golly)
- **girly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/girly-vs-golly)
- **golds** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/golds-vs-golly)

## Common misspellings (6)
`ggolly`, `gloly`, `gollyy`, `goly`, `golyl`, `oglly`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/golly