uh-huh

uh-huh

See also: uhhuh and uh huh

English

Alternative forms

• uhhuh
• uh huh
• uhuh

Etymology

Imitative of non-verbal sounds used to indicate agreement or to allow the speaker to continue talking. Compare synonymous mhm.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ʌ˨ˈɦʌ˦], [ˈʌɦʌ]
• Both syllables can be nasalized.

• Audio (Canadian)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Particle

uh-huh

1. yes; yeah
   • 1914: Sinclair Lewis, Our Mr. Wrenn - "So? Lived there long?" "Uh-huh, I--" began Mr. Wrenn.

Usage notes

• "Uh-huh" can be used informally as an answer to a question.
• "Uh-huh" can be used to show disinterest or disbelief in answer to a statement in lieu of other similar statements such as "Whatever".
• "Uh-huh" is often said while someone else is talking, in order to show that the listener is still interested or agrees with what the speaker is saying (backchannelling).
• "Uh-huh" can serve as an informal reply to thanks or an expression of gratitude.
• "Uh-huh", in an elongated form, can be used to signify sarcastic agreement.

Synonyms

• mhm

Antonyms

• uh-uh

Translations

expressing agreement or affirmation

Bulgarian: аха (bg) (aha) Czech: mhm (cs) Chinese: Mandarin: 嗯哼 (zh) (enhēng) Dutch: uhu Hungarian: aha (hu) Japanese: うん (ja) (un) Marathi: हं n (hm) Polish: mhm (pl) Portuguese: aham (pt) Russian: угу́ (ru) (ugú) Spanish: ajá (es) Swedish: mhm Tagalog: oo (tl) Turkish: ha (tr) Ukrainian: угу́ (uhú), ага́ (uk) (ahá) Vietnamese: ừ, ờ (vi)

References

• “uh-huh”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989, →ISBN.
• Rod Gardner (2001) When Listeners Talk
• John Algeo (2009) The Origins and Development of the English Language

Anagrams

• huh-uh