# woo

> English word · Verb · IPA /wuː/ · frequency rank #8,745

## Definitions
1. To endeavor to gain someone's affection/support.
2. To try to persuade (someone) to be in an amorous relationship with
3. To court solicitously; to invite with importunity; to solicit in love.

## Etymology
From Middle English wowen, woȝen, from Old English wōgian (“to woo, court, marry”), of uncertain origin. Cognate with Scots wow (“to woo”). Perhaps related to Old English wōg, wōh (“bending, crookedness”), in the specific sense of "bend or incline (some)one toward oneself". If so, then derived from Proto-Germanic *wanhō (“a bend, angle”), from Proto-Indo-European *wonk- (“crooked, bent”), from Proto-Indo-European *wā- (“to bend, twist, turn”); related to Old Norse vá (“corner, angle”).

## Easily confused with
- **Wu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wu)
- **wt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wt)
- **WS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-ws)
- **WV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wv)
- **wy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wy)
- **wow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wow)
- **WTF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wtf)
- **WWE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wwe)
- **WWW** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-www)
- **WTO** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wto)
- **WWF** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wwf)
- **wot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wot)
- **wut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wut)
- **WSJ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wsj)
- **WTH** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wth)
- **wop** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wop)
- **wry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wry)
- **wor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wor)
- **WTC** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wtc)
- **wye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/woo-vs-wye)

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