um

Stalling for time

Like hem and hmm, um represents a vocalization made by someone who is hesitating or doesn’t know what to say next.

filler

uh

Vocalized hesitation marker

erSpoken filler noise
likeComparable to, or enjoy
you knowFiller seeking confirmation

so · well · basically · actually · literally · I mean · right · yeah · okay · anyway

hesitation

uh

Vocalized hesitation marker

erSpoken filler noise
ahExclamation of realization
stammerSpeak with involuntary repetitions

falter · pause · stumble · fumble · stutter · hesitate · halt · delay · waver · tentative

thinking

uh

Vocalized hesitation marker

erSpoken filler noise
hmmSound of contemplation
let me seeStalling phrase while thinking

well · pause · consider · ponder · recall · remember · searching · processing · formulating · gathering thoughts

interjection

uh

Vocalized hesitation marker

erSpoken filler noise
ahExclamation of realization
ohSoft exclamation of realization

hmm · uh-huh · uh-oh · eh · huh · mm · mm-hmm · ahem · ooh · nah

Categories

Short Wordsact, a, add, I, bat
everyday speechsmall talk, chitchat, chit-chat, chat, banter
filler phrasesuh, like, you know, I mean, basically
interjectionsah, hey, aha, sheesh, oh
speech habitsmumbling, stuttering, stammering, rambling, interrupting
Portuguese numberszero, tres, cinco, doze, noventa

Opposites

speech fluency

Persuasive verbal grace

fluency · silver-tongued · well-spoken · glib · rehearsed

certainty of expression

With firm determination

emphatically · confidently · assertively · definitively · unequivocally

verbal precision

Exactly correct, no error

articulate · exact · clear · concise · direct

Family

umm, umming, ums, ummed

Familiarity: Top 3,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G