uhhhh

Examples

• All

• Uhhhh, Phil pays him, takes the pizza, and closes the door.

  Fiction book (1993)

• "Uhhhh..." Sam moaned to himself.

  Fiction book (2000)

• Where is he?" and Christian was all, "Uhhhh... no idea.

  Blog text (8)

• Hold up... uhhhh, What would you say your stronger suit is?

  The Judge (2014)

• "And my friend was like, 'Uhhhh, no.'"

  Blog text (22)

• "Your parents weren't satisfied with your explanation...." "Uhhhh, no."

  Fiction book (1996)

• Uhhhh, you want me to build you a site, do Google AdWords, and SEO?

  Blog text (13)

• Uhhhh, so sad.

  Blog text (25)

• Uhhhh, OK.

  Blog text (9)

• "Uhhhh, sure," I said, and clutching my copy of WiPP to my heaving bosom, I fled.

  Fiction book (1999)

Synonyms

U

uh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

∞ 7.3

A short sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is a broader hesitation sound used to fill thinking pauses

U

um

vsuhhhh

• Informal

∞ 4.1

A short sound people say when they pause to think

is the same general pause but used in conversational replies

H

hmm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

∞ 8.7

A sound people make when they hesitate and think

is the conversational filler used more for general hesitation

A

ah

vsuhhhh

• Informal

744 2.4

A short sound people make when they hesitate or think

is a more general filler used to show uncertainty in speech

M

mmm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

384 9.5

A sound people make when they think or hesitate

is used more widely as a pause or uncertainty marker

U

umm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

96 8.8

A short sound people make when they pause to think

is the general filler used for uncertainty without prolonged sound

E

erm

vsuhhhh

• UK

65 9.9

A short sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is the broader pause filler that also signals doubt or thought

U

uhh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

41 9.5

A sound people use when they hesitate or are unsure

covers hesitation more generally, not only confusion while speaking

U

uhm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

35 9.8

A short sound people make when they pause to think

is the wider hesitation sound used throughout a conversation

U

uhhh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

17 9.9

A sound people make when they hesitate while speaking

is the general filler that also signals uncertainty while pausing

B

buh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

8 9.9

A short unsure sound you make when you search for words

is a broader hesitation sound used to fill thinking pauses

U

uuh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

6 9.9

A sound someone makes when they hesitate or need time to think

is the common conversational pause used to show uncertainty

E

ehm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

5 8.7

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

is the common hesitation filler used in many spoken replies

E

ehh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

3 9.6

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

is a neutral filler used mainly to pause while thinking

H

hem

vsuhhhh

3 8.4

A short sound made by clearing the throat to get attention or show hesitation

is a spoken filler focused purely on hesitation, not attention seeking

O

ohhhh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

2 9.8

A long sound people make when thinking before they speak

is the standard brief filler used for quick thinking pauses

E

errr

vsuhhhh

• Informal

1 9.5

A short sound people make when they are not sure

is the typical hesitation filler used while thinking of a reply

E

ehhh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

1 9.9

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

is the general filler used to show pause and uncertainty

M

mhm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

1 9.9

A low sound people make while thinking or hesitating

is the general pause used to signal uncertainty in speech

M

mmmmm

vsuhhhh

• Informal

1 9.9

A low sound showing thought or hesitation before answering

is the standard conversational filler used for short pauses

A

augh

vsuhhhh

• Informal

9.9

A short sound that shows you are not sure what to say

is a neutral pause used mainly to show uncertainty without strong emotion

H

hurr

vsuhhhh

• Slang

9.9

People type it online to show confusion or surprise

is a spoken filler used in conversation rather than online exclamations

How Hesitant

uhhhh

• Informal

3 9.9

uhhh

• Informal

17 9.9

uhh

• Informal

41 9.5

uh

• Informal

∞ 7.3

Surface Forms

Etymology