uh

uh — exclamation

1. a written form of the sound a person makes when they hesitate or pause briefly w

1.exclamationA2
Definition

a written form of the sound a person makes when they hesitate or pause briefly while speaking, often because they are deciding what to say or how to answer

Example

Uh, I think we might have taken the wrong turn back there.

opening filler before admitting uncertainty

The teacher asked who had finished the reading, and uh, I had not.

Synonyms
  • um

    a longer, more hesitant pause than 'uh'; often sounds more uncertain or awkward

  • er

    British English variant of the hesitation sound, more common in UK writing

  • like

    a conversational filler but used differently — 'like' signals approximation or paraphrase, not just hesitation

Grammar Patterns

used at the beginning of a turn or after a question to signal that the speaker needs a moment to think

Usage Note

Primarily used in written dialogue, comics, transcripts, or informal writing to represent a spoken hesitation. 'Uh' suggests a short pause (under one second), while 'um' often indicates a longer or more awkward hesitation. Avoid in formal written English.

Common Mistakes

I am, uh, going to the store.' (overusing in written narration)
I am going to the store.
In most formal writing, simply omit the filler; 'uh' belongs in dialogue or transcripts only.

Synonym discussion

Sense: exclamation/1

All four words represent spoken fillers, but they differ in length, region, and function. 'Uh' signals a brief hesitation — the speaker needs a moment but will continue shortly. 'Um' suggests a longer or more awkward pause, often carrying a tone of uncertainty or discomfort. 'Er' is the British English equivalent of 'uh', more frequent in UK writing (dialogue, novels, transcripts). 'Like' has a different role: it marks approximation or paraphrase ('It took, like, three hours') rather than pure hesitation. In writing, 'uh' and 'um' are the standard choices for informal American English dialogue; 'er' fits British narratives better. Avoid overusing any of them in narration — reserve them for quoted speech or transcripts where natural pauses need to be shown.

uh ↗um ↗er ↗like ↗

Etymology

English

A natural hesitation sound found in many languages, represented in English writing since the late 1800s. Unlike words with a traceable etymology, 'uh' is an onomatopoeic rendering of a universal speech pause — the vocal cords produce a neutral vowel sound (schwa) while the speaker searches for the next word.