What does “oye” mean in Hindi-Punjabi?

Hindi spoken in northern India absorbs Punjabi in everyday street talk, and one of the most recognizable carryovers is ओए (oye), a Punjabi-flavored shout-word used the way English uses “hey!” or “yo!” In this clip a kid yells “ओए प्रीत” (“oye Preet”) to grab his friend’s attention. Oye is informal, warm, and a marker of Delhi/Punjab youth speech.

The bribe in the clip is Kinder Joy, the Italian Ferrero chocolate-and-toy egg that’s reached cult status with Indian kids. Stocked widely across India, Kinder खाऊंगा (“I’ll have a Kinder”) has become a common “I’ll do it for chocolate” line in Indian playgrounds.