Short in size, but remarkably eloquent, interjections usually represent a serious challenge for English learners as they can dramatically change the meaning of the whole utterance. Alternatively, mastering this language area will definitely enrich the vocabulary and provide fluency and language confidence. And last, but not least, interjections make up a huge part of on-line chats.
Word / variants | Translation | Example | Meaning |
aah! / aaah, aaaahh | "Help!" | "Aaaah! It's eating my leg!" | Fright, shock. Sometimes it means "ahh" instead. |
aha / a-ha | "I understand" | "Aha! So you took the money!" | Understanding, triumph (can also be used as "ahh") |
ahh / ahhh | "Ok, I see" | "Ahh, yes, I understand now" | Realisation, understanding. Sometimes it means "aaah" or "eh" instead. |
argh | "Damn!" | "Argh, the car won't work!" | Annoyance, anger, frustration |
aw / aww, awww | "How sweet!" | "Aww, what an adorable puppy" | Shows sentimental approval |
aw / oh, ah | "That's too bad" | "Aw man, it hit him right in the nuts" | Feeling sorry or pity for someone |
bah | "Whatever" | "Bah, I never liked him anyways." | Dismissive, annoyed |
boo / booh | "That's bad" | "Boo, get off the stage!" | Disapproval, contempt (also something to yell to surprise people) |
brr / brrrr | "It's cold" | "Brrr, it's -20C outside" | Being cold, shivering |
eek / eeeek | "Help!" | "Eeek, a mouse!" | Girly scream. Surprised, scared. |
eep | "Oh no!" | "Eep! I didn't mean to say that!" | Surprise (female) |
eh? | "What?" | "Eh? I didn't hear what you said." | Misunderstanding. Also see "huh?" |
eww / ewwww | "Disgusting" | "Ewww, this apple is rotten" | Disgust, dislike |
grr / grrrr | "I'm angry" | "Grrr, I'll kick his ass" | Anger, snarling, growling. Often used for dogs and other animals. |
hmm / hm, hmmmm | "I wonder" | "Hmm, I'm not sure about that" | Thinking, hesitation. |
huh | "Really?" | "Huh, you were right" | Mild, indifferent surprise |
huh? / eh? | "Is that right?" | "So she dumped you, huh?" | Asking for confirmation |
ich / yuk | "Disgusting" | "Blerch, this apple is rotten" | Disgust, dislike |
meh / eh | "Who cares" | "Meh, whatever you think is best" | Indifference |
mhm / mmhm, uh-hu | "Yes" | "Do you think so too?" "Mhm" | Agreement, acknowledgement. |
mm / mmm, mmh | "Lovely" | "Mmm, this ice cream is delicious" | Pleasure. Sometimes it means "hmm" instead. |
oh | "I see" | "Oh, you wanted sugar, not milk." | Realisation |
ooh / oooh | "Wonderful!" | "Oooh, it's shiny!" | Wonder, amazement (ohhh can also mean ahhh) |
ooh-la-la / oh-lala | "Fancy!" | "A seven layer wedding cake? Ooh-la-la!" | An often ironic (or just funny) way indicating that something is fancy or high class |
oomph / umph | "I'm exerting myself" | "Push on 3.. 1, 2, 3.. oomph!" | A grunt made on sudden exertion. Also used as a noun to mean "power" or "energy" ("This song needs more oomph!") |
oops | "I didn't mean to do that" | "Oops, I knocked over your cup" | Being surprised at or acknowledging your own mistakes |
ow / oww, ouch | "That hurts" | "Oww, I hit my thumb" | Pain |
oy / oi, oyh | "Hey, you!" | "Oy! You forgot your wallet!" | Used to get someone's attention, similar to "hey!". Also used disapprovingly ("Oy, you spilled your drink all over me!") |
pff / pffh, pssh, pfft | "That's nothing" | "Pff, I once caught a fish twice that size" | Unimpressed |
sheesh / jeez | "I can't believe this!" | "Sheesh, now he's drunk again" | Exasperation, annoyance |
tsk-tsk / tut-tut | "Disappointing" | "Tsk-tsk, he is late for work again" | disappointment, contempt (this is a clicking sound) |
uh-hu / mhm | "Yes" | "Do you think so too?" "Uh-hu" | Agreement, acknowledgement. |
uh-oh / oh-oh | "Oh no!" | "Uh-oh, I think the bear is inside the house" | Concerned for indications that something will happen |
uhh / uhm, err | "Wait, I'm thinking" | "Seven times eight is... uhh... 56" | Indicates a pause in, rather than the end of, a sentence |
whoa | "Unbelievable! | "Whoa, I just looked at it and it broke!" | Confounded, surprised and amazed. In popular culture, marijuana smokers are often depicted with this exclamation. |
wow | "Amazing!" | "Wow, that's incredible!" | Impressed, astonished |
yuk / ich | "Disgusting!" | "Yuk, I wouldn't want to touch that" | Disgust, dislike |
zing / bada-zing, ba-dump tish | "Haha, well said!" | You're so stupid; you'd trip over a wireless phone!" "Zing!" | Used (often ironically) to punctuate a punch line or witty comeback. From the sound of a rimshot, played after punch lines in some comedy acts |
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