'Ay, caramba!"

Hi there,
I never quite sure about this expression "Ay caramble"(it may be spelled differently!).
Is it an expression used to indicate the reaction to suprises or "Oh my god"?

Thanks

My Spanish dictionary is a bit old-fashioned. It translates the expression as either "Confound it!" or "Gracious me!" It's probably a bit old-fashioned in Spanish, and it's a flexible interjection used to register surprise, much in the way we might say "Wow!" or "Holy Smoke!" Don't translate it as "Oh my god!" When Spanish-speakers want to say that, they do (in Spanish). I doubt that "Ay, caramba!" would often require translation. Most English-speaking Americans are familiar with the expression and its use. SS

"Ay caramba" is a favorite expression of Bart Simpson's. I wonder if there's a segment of the English-speaking population that doesn't know it's Spanish.