erm

Examples

• All

• Erm... Miss Gooding, what was your late husband's name?

  Wicked Little Letters (2024)

• As for the data, erm, which state has not provided its data?

  Blog text (34)

• So, you are still, erm... I am what God made me.

  Conclave (2024)

• I think I might have, erm, found somewhere.

  Saltburn (2023)

• And erm... staying with us, as a matter of fact.

  EverAfter (1998)

• Erm... can I leave now?

  The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

• Erm, he made us all believe that everyone hated us.

  The United Way (2021)

• Erm, if you really wanted her to stay, why didn't you vote for her?

  Blog text (7)

• Erm, didn't inflation peak at 5.2% not 12 months or so ago?

  Blog text (19)

• Erm, I forgot what I was going to say.

Synonyms

U

uh

vserm

• Informal

∞ 7.3

A short sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is the broader spoken hesitation used without extra nuance

U

um

vserm

• Informal

∞ 4.1

A short sound people say when they pause to think

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than filling pauses

A

ah

vserm

• Informal

744 2.4

A short sound people make when they hesitate or think

is used for hesitation or uncertainty more generally, not only doubt

U

uhh

vserm

• Informal

41 9.5

A sound people use when they hesitate or are unsure

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than implying confusion

U

uhm

vserm

• Informal

35 9.8

A short sound people make when they pause to think

is for general hesitation rather than only pauses before speaking

U

uhhh

vserm

• Informal

17 9.9

A sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is used for hesitation or uncertainty without stressing long pauses

E

ehm

vserm

• Informal

5 8.7

A short sound people make when they pause to think while speaking

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than specifically word searching

U

uhhhh

vserm

• Informal

3 9.9

A sound people make when they hesitate or think

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than mainly filling pauses

E

ehh

vserm

• Informal

3 9.6

A sound people make to show they are not sure or hesitant

is used for hesitation or uncertainty generally rather than showing lack of enthusiasm

U

umm

vserm

• Informal

2 9.8

A short sound people use to show they are unsure while speaking

is the general hesitation without extra emphasis or meaning

E

errr

vserm

• Informal

1 9.5

A short sound people make when they are not sure

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than mainly filling pauses

E

ehhh

vserm

• Informal

1 9.9

A hesitation sound people make when they think or search for words

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than only word searching

M

mhm

vserm

• Informal

1 9.9

A low sound people make while thinking or hesitating

is used for hesitation or uncertainty rather than mainly signalling unreadiness

M

mmmmm

vserm

• Informal

1 9.9

A low sound showing thought or hesitation before answering

is used for hesitation or uncertainty in general conversation rather than only before answers

How Hesitant

erm

• UK

65 9.9

um

• Informal

∞ 4.1

uh

• Informal

∞ 7.3

Surface Forms

Etymology