Dictionary of interjectionsHere is a list of english interjections (words that have no grammatical meaning, but just signify emotions, such as "Aha" and "Wow") and their meanings. Feel freeto mail me if you have suggestions or comments.

Like the sounds themselves, most of the interjection can be made stronger by stretching them out, such as "aaaaaah!!!" or "awwwwwww!!". This list mostlydescribes the shortest canonical representations. Note that some are listed several times with different meanings, and as alternate spellings under other entries.

Word Alternate/Similar 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 tookthe money!" Understanding, triumph (can also be used as "ahh")

ahem "Attention,please!"

"Ahem! Swearing isagainst office policy."

The sound of clearing one's throat. Used to get someone's attention,especially if they don't know (or apparently forgot) that you're there.

ahh ahhh "Ok, I see" "Ahh, yes, Iunderstand now" Realisation, understanding. Sometimes it means "aaah" or "eh" instead.

argh augh "Damn!" "Argh, the car won'twork!" Annoyance, anger, frustration

aww aw,awww "How sweet!" "Aww, what an

adorable puppy" Shows sentimental approval (also see next entry)

aww aw, ohh,ahh

"That's toobad"

"Aww, it hit him rightin the nuts!" Feeling sorry or pity for someone

aw oh "Come on!" "Aw, don't be likethat!" Mild disappointment or protest

bah "Whatever" "Bah, I never likedhim anyways." Dismissive, annoyed

boo booh "That's bad" "Boo, get off thestage!" Disapproval, contempt

boo! "Scared you!"I jumped out from thecloset and yelled"boo!"

A noise used to scare people by surprise

brr brrrr "It's cold" "Brrr, it's -20Coutside" Being cold, shivering

d'oh doh "That wasstupid/bad!"

"I just deleted all myfiles. D'oh!" Homer Simpson's catchphrase when something bad happens.

duh "That's dumb" "Duh, you didn't plugit in." Expresses annoyance over something stupid or obvious

eek eeeek "Help!" "Eeek, a mouse!" Girly scream. Surprised, scared.

eep "Oh no!" "Eep! I didn't meanto say that!" Surprise (female)

eh? huh? "What?" "Eh? I didn't hearwhat you said." Misunderstanding. Also see "eh?" below

eh? huh?, eyh? "Is that right?" "So she dumped you,eh?" Stereotypically overused by Canadians

eww ugh,ewww "Disgusting" "Ewww, this apple is

rotten" Disgust, dislike

gah "This ishopeless" "Gah, I give up" Exasperation and despair

gee "Really?" "Gee, that's super!" Surprise, enthusiasm, or just general emphasis.

grr grrrr "I'm angry" "Grrr, I'll kick his ass" Anger, snarling, growling. Often used for dogs and other animals.

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hmm hm,hmmmm "I wonder" "Hmm, I'm not sure

about that" Thinking, hesitation.

humph harumph "I don't likethis"

"There are kids onmy lawn again,humph!"

A snort, to express dislike, disbelief or annoyance.

hah heh "Funny." "Heh, that's clever" The first syllable of "hahaha", when something is just a little funny

huh "Really?" "Huh, you were right" Mild, indifferent surprise

hurrah hooray,huzzah

"Let'scelebrate!" "Hurrah, we won!" Generic exclaimation of joy

ich yuck, yak "Disgusting" "Blerch, this apple isrotten" Disgust, dislike

meh eh "I don't know" "Meh, whatever youthink 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.

muahaha mwahaha,bwahaha "I'm so evil!"

"I switched the sugarand the salt!Muahaha!"

Evil villain's triumphant laugh

nah "No" "Want another beer?""Nah, I'm good" Informal no

nuh-uh nuh-hu,nuhuh

"No, itisn't!"/"Didnot!"

"I hit you!" "Nuh-uh!""Yuh-uh!" "Nuh-uh!" Childish negation or refusal

oh "I see" "Oh, you wantedsugar, not milk." Realisation

ooh-la-la oh-lala "Fancy!"

"A seven layerwedding cake? Ooh-la-la!"

An often ironic (or just funny) way indicating that something is fancy orhigh class

ooh oooh "Wonderful!" "Oooh, it's shiny!" Wonder, amazement (ohhh can also mean ahhh)

oomph umph "I'm exertingmyself"

"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 meanto do that"

"Oops, I knockedyour cup over" Being surprised at or acknowledging your own mistakes

owoww,ouch,yeow

"That hurts" "Oww, I hit mythumb" Pain

oy oi, oyh "Hey, you!" "Oy! You forgot yourwallet!"

Mainly British: Used to get someone's attention, similar to "hey!". Alsoused disapprovingly ("Oy, you spilled your drink all over me!").

oy oy vay "Oh no..." "The bills are bilingup. Oy..." Mainly Jewish: Used to express self-pity, similar to "woe is me!"

pew pee-yew "It stinks!" "Pew, that smells sogross!" Used for foul odors

pff pffh, pssh,pfft

"That'snothing"

"Pff, I once caught afish twice that size" Unimpressed

phew "That wasclose!"

"I didn't do myhomework, but theteacher didn't check.Phew!"

Expressing relief

psst Whispering"Hey, you!"

"Psst. Let's skip thenext class!" Used to quietly get someone's attention, often to tell them a secret.

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sheesh jeez "I can't believethis!"

"Sheesh, now he'sdrunk again" Exasperation, annoyance (corruption of "Jesus")

shh hush,shush "Be quiet"

"Shh, I'm trying tohear what they'resaying!"

Used to make someone be quiet

shoo "Go away" "Get out of here!Shoo!" Used to drive away animals or small children

tsk-tsk tut-tut "Disappointing" "Tsk-tsk, he is latefor work again" disappointment, contempt (this is a clicking sound. Clip from Futurama)

uh-hu uhuh, mhm "Yes" "Do you think sotoo?" "Uh-hu" Agreement, acknowledgement (easily confused with uh-uh)

uh-oh oh-oh "Oh no!""Uh-oh, I think thebear is inside thehouse"

Concerned for indications that something will happen

uh-uh unh-unh "No" "Eat your spinach!""Uh-uh!"

Refusal, especially if your mouth is full or if you refuse to open it (easilyconfused with uhuh)

uhh uhm, err "Wait, I'mthinking"

"Seven times eightis... uhh... 56" Indicates a pause in, rather than the end of, a sentence

wee whee,weee "This is fun!" "Weee! Faster!" Used by children when doing something fun, and often ironically by adults

when something is fun but childish

whoa "Hold on." "Whoa, take it easy!"Can be used to suggest caution as in here, and also stereotypically used bymarijuana smokers to express dumbfounded amazement ("whoa, look atthe colors!"). Originally a sound used to make horses stop.

wow "Amazing!" "Wow, that'sincredible!" Impressed, astonished

yahoo yippie "Let'scelebrate!" "Yippie! We won!" Generic exclaimation of joy

yay "Yes!" "Yay! We won!" All-purpose cheer. Approval, congratulations and triumph

yeah yeeeeaah! "Yes!" "Yeeeaah! Kick hisbutt!" Common slang for "yes", sometimes also used as an interjection.

yee-haw yeehaw "I'm excited!" "Let's gather somecattle! Yee-haw!" Much like "yahoo", but almost always associated with cowboys.

yikes "That's a badsurprise."

"I found out I owed$5000 in back taxes.Yikes!"

Fear and alarm.

yoo-hoo yoohoo "Hey you!""Yoo-hoo, sugercup!Come give me ahug!"

The often ironic/comical, seductive call of a woman to get someone'sattention

yuh-uh yuh-hu,yuhuh

"Yes, itis!"/"Did so!"

"I hit you!" "Nuh-uh!""Yuh-uh!" "Nuh-uh!"...

Childish affirmation, often used to counter "nuh-uh!" (not to be confusedwith yoo-hoo).

yuck ich, blech,bleh "Disgusting!" "Yuck, I wouldn't

want to touch that" Disgust, dislike

zingba-dum-tss, badumtish

"Haha, wellsaid!"

"You're so stupid,you'd trip over awireless phone!""Zing!"

Used (often ironically) to punctuate a punchline or witty comeback. Fromthe sound of a rimshot, played after punchlines in some comedy acts.

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