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Glite Dictionary
👍 Agreement sound 🙄 Doubtful sound 🤔 Thinking sound
mhm

mhm

1 9.9
A low sound people make while thinking or hesitating
  • interjection
  • /mʌm/
  • Informal
translation icon : mmm
  • Mhm, to test the waters.

Examples

  • - Do I go topless? - Mhm.

    Tony n' Tina's Wedding (2004)

  • - Mhm, are you?

    Old Boyfriends (1979)

  • Mhm, I need a moment to think about my ... answer.

  • Mhm, I'm not quite sure if this is the right ... choice.

  • Mhm, let me see if I understand what you're ... saying.

Synonyms

um
vsmhm
  • Informal
∞ 4.1

A short sound people say when they pause to think

is a voiced low hum rather than a vowel filler
hmm
vsmhm
  • Informal
∞ 8.7

A sound people make when they hesitate and think

is specifically a low hum used while not ready to reply
ah
vsmhm
  • Informal
744 2.4

A short sound people make when they hesitate or think

is voiced as a low hum instead of an exhale vowel
mmm
vsmhm
  • Informal
384 9.5

A sound people make when they think or hesitate

is a low hum used to signal not yet ready to answer
erm
vsmhm
  • UK
65 9.9

A short sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is specifically a low hum voice used when thinking
uhh
vsmhm
  • Informal
41 9.5

A sound people use when they hesitate or are unsure

is a low voiced hum used to show thinking instead
uhm
vsmhm
  • Informal
35 9.8

A short sound people make when they pause to think

is produced as a low hum rather than a vowel pause
uhhh
vsmhm
  • Informal
17 9.9

A sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is a low humming sound not a stretched vowel
buh
vsmhm
  • Informal
8 9.9

A short unsure sound you make when you search for words

is a clearer low hum used to signal thinking
ehm
vsmhm
  • Informal
5 8.7

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

is a low humming filler rather than a brief neutral filler
uhhhh
vsmhm
  • Informal
3 9.9

A sound people make when they hesitate or think

is a compact low hum rather than a long vowel
ehh
vsmhm
  • Informal
3 9.6

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

is a low voiced hum rather than a flat vowel response
ahem
vsmhm
3 9.3

A short throat sound people make to get attention or show hesitation

is an actual low hum produced vocally rather than throat clearing
umm
vsmhm
  • Informal
2 9.8

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

is a lower hum sound instead of a vowel hesitation
ohhhh
vsmhm
  • Informal
2 9.8

A long sound people make when thinking before they speak

is a quieter low hum rather than an exclamation
ehhh
vsmhm
  • Informal
1 9.9

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

is lower in tone and more humming than that sound
mmmmm
vsmhm
  • Informal
1 9.9

A low sound showing thought or hesitation before answering

is shorter and more compact as a low hesitant hum

How Hesitant

hmm
  • Informal
∞ 8.7
mhm
  • Informal
1 9.9
um
  • Informal
∞ 4.1
uh
  • Informal
∞ 7.3

Surface Forms

mhm main

Etymology

Mhm is a quiet sound people use when they are thinking or not ready to answer. It comes from the same small hum hmm, which people use to show 'thinking' or hesitation, so a soft mhm often means 'I am considering' or 'not yet ready to answer'.