eh
English
Alternative forms
Etymology 1
Natural exclamation; first recorded mid-16th century. Perhaps an unstressed variant of aye (“yes, yeah”).
The Philippine sense is possibly influenced by Tagalog e and/or Spanish eh.
Pronunciation
(tag question, request for repetition, ascertaining continued attention):
(apathy or lack of enthusiasm, unremarkable):
- (Canada, UK, US) enPR: ĕ, â, IPA(key): /ɛ/, [ɛː]
- (Scotland) IPA(key): /e/
Audio (General Australian): (file)
Interjection
eh
- (informal, chiefly Canada, Upper Midwestern US, New Zealand, UK) Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.
- These hot dogs are pretty good, eh?
- 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick 16:
- Well, what dost thou think then of seeing the world? Do ye wish to go round Cape Horn to see any more of it, eh? Can’t ye see the world where you stand?
- In isolation, a request for repetition or clarification of what has just been said; compare what, pardon.
- In isolation, expressing surprise or confusion; compare wha, huh, za.
- (chiefly Canada) An interjection used to ascertain the continued attention of someone addressed by the speaker.
- I went to the restaurant, eh, but my friends didn't show up.
- Expressing apathy or lack of enthusiasm; meh.
- —Do you feel like going out tonight?
—Eh, I don't know.
- 2010, Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, directors, Despicable Me:
- “Look, Mom; I made the real rocket, based on the macaroni prototype!” “…Eh.”
- (Philippines) Expressing apprehension following or preceding a reasoning or excuse; uh.
- —Why is it like this?
—Eh, It's like that eh.
Usage notes
- In North America, the word is stereotypically associated with Canada and can sometimes convey that the speaker is trying to sound (sarcastically) Canadian outside the country. However, it is in widespread use in many other parts of the English-speaking world, including the northern United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Malaysia, the Philippines, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa and Nigeria.
Translations
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Verb
eh (third-person singular simple present ehs, present participle ehing, simple past and past participle ehed)
- To use the interjection eh.
Adjective
eh (not comparable)
- (informal, predicative only) Of mediocre quality; unremarkable.
- My French fries were eh.
See also
- eh up (possibly etymologically related)
References
- Oxford English Dictionary, 1884–1928, and First Supplement, 1933.
Etymology 2
From Hokkien 欸 (--eh) and Mandarin 欸 (ê̄ / ế / ê̌, interjection).
Pronunciation
Interjection
eh (Singapore)
- (Singlish, usually impolite) Hey, oi; said to get someone's attention.
- (uncommon) An interjection expressing disapproval.
- Eh, please don't say that...
- (with rising pitch) Huh?; expresses confusion.
See also
- eh eh eh (interjection, possibly related to the above)
Etymology 3
Probably of multiple motivations, the sounds having been chosen for functional reasons.
Pronunciation
Interjection
eh
- (MLE, MTE, regional African-American Vernacular, Chicano) an attention grabber
- 2017, Dirty Heads, Vacation
- E-, e-, eh, I'm on vacation / Every single day 'cause I love my occupation
- 2017, Dirty Heads, Vacation
Alternative forms
- aye (misspelling)
Anagrams
Albanian
Etymology
From Proto-Albanian *akˢka, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- (“sharp”).
Verb
eh (aorist eha, participle ehur)
Conjugation
participle (pjesorja) |
ehur | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gerund — present (përcjellorja — koha e tashme) |
duke ehur | ||||||
gerund — perfect (përcjellorja — koha e kryer) |
duke pasë ehur | ||||||
infinitive — present) (paskajorja — koha e tashme) |
për të ehur | ||||||
infinitive — perfect) (paskajorja — koha e kryer) |
për të pasë ehur | ||||||
singular (numri njëjës) |
plural (numri shumës) | ||||||
1st person (veta e parë) |
2nd person (veta e dytë) |
3rd person (veta e tretë) |
1st person (veta e parë) |
2nd person (veta e dytë) |
3rd person (veta e tretë) | ||
indicative (mënyra dëftore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
eh | eh | eh | ehim | ehni | ehin | |
continuous present (koha e tashme e vazhdueshme) |
po eh | po eh | po eh | po ehim | po ehni | po ehin | |
imperfect (koha e pakryer) |
ehja | ehje | ehte | ehnim | ehnit | ehnin | |
continuous imperfect (koha e pakryer e vazhdueshme) |
po ehja | po ehje | po ehte | po ehnim | po ehnit | po ehnin | |
aorist (koha e kryer e thjeshtë) |
eha | ehe | ehu | ehëm | ehët | ehën | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
kam ehur | ke ehur | ka ehur | kemi ehur | keni ehur | kanë ehur | |
past perfect I (koha e kryer e tejshkuar I) |
kisha ehur | kishe ehur | kishte ehur | kishim ehur | kishit ehur | kishin ehur | |
past perfect II (koha e kryer e tejshkuar II) |
pata ehur | pate ehur | pat(i) ehur | patëm ehur | patët ehur | patën ehur | |
future I (koha e ardhme I) |
do të eh | do të ehësh | do të ehë | do të ehim | do të ehni | do të ehin | |
future II (koha e ardhme II) |
kam për të ehur | ke për të ehur | ka për të ehur | kemi për të ehur | keni për të ehur | kanë për të ehur | |
future perfect I (koha e ardhme e përparme I) |
do të kem ehur | do të kesh ehur | do të ke ehur | do të kemi ehur | do të keni ehur | do të kenë ehur | |
future perfect II (koha e ardhme e përparme II) |
kam për të pasë ehur | ke për të pasë ehur | ka për të pasë ehur | kemi për të pasë ehur | keni për të pasë ehur | kanë për të pasë ehur | |
subjunctive (mënyra lidhore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
të eh | të ehësh | të ehë | të ehim | të ehni | të ehin | |
imperfect (koha e pakryer) |
të ehja | të ehje | të ehnte | të ehnim | të ehnit | të ehnin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
të kem ehur | të kesh ehur | të ketë ehur | të kemi ehur | të keni ehur | të kenë ehur | |
past perfect (koha e kryer e tejshkuar) |
të kisha ehur | të kishe ehur | të kishte ehur | të kishim ehur | të kishit ehur | të kishin ehur | |
conditional (mënyra kushtore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
do të ehja | do të ehje | do të ehte | do të ehnim | do të ehnit | do të ehnin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
do të kisha ehur | do të kishe ehur | do të kishte ehur | do të kishim ehur | do të kishit ehur | do të kishin ehur | |
optative (mënyra dëshirore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
ehsha | ehsh | ehtë | ehshim | ehshi | ehshin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
paça ehur | paç ehur | pastë ehur | paçim ehur | paçi ehur | paçin ehur | |
admirative (mënyra habitore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
ehkam | ehke | ehka | ehkemi | ehkeni | ehkan | |
imperfect (koha e pakryer) |
ehkësha | ehkëshe | ehkësh / ehkej | ehkëshim | ehkëshit | ehkëshin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
paskam ehur | paske ehur | paska ehur | paskemi ehur | paskeni ehur | paskan ehur | |
pluperfect (koha e kryer) |
paskësha ehur | paskëshe ehur | paskësh ehur / paskej ehur | paskëshim ehur | paskëshit ehur | paskëshin ehur | |
imperative (mënyra urdhërore) |
— | ti | — | — | ju | — | |
— | Eh! | — | — | Ehni! | — | ||
imperative — negatory (mënyra urdhërore — mohor) |
— | ti | — | — | ju | — | |
— | Mos eh! | — | — | Mos ehni! | — |
participle (pjesorja) |
ehur | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gerund — present (përcjellorja — koha e tashme) |
duke u ehur | ||||||
gerund — perfect (përcjellorja — koha e kryer) |
duke qenë ehur | ||||||
infinitive — present) (paskajorja — koha e tashme) |
për të u ehur / për t'u ehur | ||||||
infinitive — perfect) (paskajorja — koha e kryer) |
për të qenë ehur | ||||||
singular (numri njëjës) |
plural (numri shumës) | ||||||
1st person (veta e parë) |
2nd person (veta e dytë) |
3rd person (veta e tretë) |
1st person (veta e parë) |
2nd person (veta e dytë) |
3rd person (veta e tretë) | ||
indicative (mënyra dëftore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
ehem | ehesh | ehet | ehemi | eheni | ehen | |
continuous present (koha e tashme e vazhdueshme) |
po ehem | po ehesh | po ehet | po ehemi | po eheni | po ehen | |
imperfect (koha e pakryer) |
ehesha | eheshe | ehej / ehesh | eheshim | eheshit | seheshin | |
continuous imperfect (koha e pakryer e vazhdueshme) |
po ehesha | po eheshe | po ehej / po ehesh | po eheshim | po eheshit | po eheshin | |
aorist (koha e kryer e thjeshtë) |
u eha | u ehe | u eh | u ehëm | u ehët | u ehën | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
jam ehur | je ehur | është ehur | jemi ehur | jeni ehur | janë ehur | |
past perfect I (koha e kryer e tejshkuar I) |
isha ehur | ishe ehur | ishte ehur | ishim ehur | ishit ehur | ishin ehur | |
past perfect II (koha e kryer e tejshkuar II) |
qeshë ehur | qe ehur | qe ehur | qemë ehur | qetë ehur | qenë ehur | |
future I (koha e ardhme I) |
do të ehem | do të ehesh | do të ehet | do të ehemi | do të eheni | do të ehen | |
future II (koha e ardhme II) |
kam për t'u ehur | ke për t'u ehur | ka për t'u ehur | kemi për t'u ehur | keni për t'u ehur | kanë për t'u ehur | |
future perfect I (koha e ardhme e përparme I) |
do të jem ehur | do të jesh ehur | do të jetë ehur | do të jemi ehur | do të jeni ehur | do të jenë ehur | |
future perfect II (koha e ardhme e përparme II) |
kam për të qenë ehur | ke për të qenë ehur | ka për të qenë ehur | kemi për të qenë ehur | keni për të qenë ehur | kanë për të qenë ehur | |
subjunctive (mënyra lidhore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
të ehem | të ehesh | të ehet | të ehemi | të eheni | të ehen | |
imperfect (koha e pakryer) |
të ehesha | të eheshe | të ehej / të ehesh | të eheshim | të eheshit | të eheshin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
të jem ehur | të jesh ehur | të jetë ehur | të jemi ehur | të jeni ehur | të jenë ehur | |
past perfect (koha e kryer e tejshkuar) |
të isha ehur | të ishe ehur | të ishte ehur | të ishim ehur | të ishit ehur | të ishin ehur | |
conditional (mënyra kushtore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
do të ehesha | do të eheshe | do të ehej / do të ehesh | do të eheshim | do të eheshit | do të eheshin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
do të isha ehur | do të ishe ehur | do të ishte ehur | do të ishim ehur | do të ishit ehur | do të ishin ehur | |
optative (mënyra dëshirore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
u ehsha | u ehsh | u ehtë | u ehshim | u ehshi | u ehshin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
qofsha ehur | qofsh ehur | qoftë ehur | qofshim ehur | qofshi ehur | qofshin ehur | |
admirative (mënyra habitore) |
unë | ti | ai/ajo | ne | ju | ata/ato | |
present (koha e tashme) |
u ehkam | u ehke | u ehka | u ehkemi | u ehkeni | u ehkan | |
imperfect (koha e pakryer) |
u ehkësha | u ehkëshe | u ehkësh / u ehkej | u ehkëshim | u ehkëshit | u ehkëshin | |
perfect (koha e kryer) |
qenkam ehur | qenke ehur | qenka ehur | qenkemi ehur | qenkeni ehur | qenkan ehur | |
pluperfect (koha e kryer) |
qenkësha ehur | qenkëshe ehur | qenkësh ehur / qenkej ehur | qenkëshim ehur | qenkëshit ehur | qenkëshin ehur | |
imperative (mënyra urdhërore) |
— | ti | — | — | ju | — | |
— | Ehu! | — | — | Ehuni! | — | ||
imperative — negatory (mënyra urdhërore — mohor) |
— | ti | — | — | ju | — | |
— | Mos ehu! | — | — | Mos ehuni! | — |
Derived terms
Related terms
Dutch
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
Interjection
eh
French
Pronunciation
Interjection
eh
- signifying indifference or surprise
Derived terms
Further reading
- “eh”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Anagrams
German
Etymology
From Middle High German ē (“earlier, ere”), originally ēr. Modern Standard German uses the lengthened form ehe (only as a conjunction).
Pronunciation
Conjunction
eh
- (colloquial) before
- Lass uns gehn, eh wir den Bus verpassen!
- Let's go before we miss the bus!
Adverb
eh
- (colloquial) anyway, in any case
- Synonyms: sowieso, ohnehin, ohnedies
- Du brauchst nicht laufen. Du kriegst die Bahn eh nicht.
- No need to run. You won’t catch the tram anyways.
- 2020, Joachim Kretschmer, “Unmittelbares Ansetzen (§ 22 StGB) bei mittelbarer Täterschaft und bei Mittäterschaft”, in Juristische Arbeitsblätter[1], number 8, pages 588–589:
- Nach der Einzellösung ist § 22 StGB für jeden Mittäter gesondert und individuell zu betrachten. Nur wer selbst unmittelbar ansetzt bzw. wer im Gesamtversuchsstadium seinen eigenen Tatbeitrag erbringt, kann wegen einer versuchten mittäterschaftlichen Tat bestraft werden. Bei der versuchten Mittäterschaft soll danach nicht die wechselseitige Zurechnung der Gesamtlösung gelten. Diese enge Ansicht beruht vor allem auf der Annahme, dass man eh nur Mittäter sein kann, wenn man einen tatherrschaftlichen Beitrag in der Ausführungsphase erbringt.
- (please add an English translation of this quotation)
- 2023 July 5, “Kritik von Grünen in Bielefeld: Wieder Streit um Johannisbachaue”, in Radio Bielefeld[2]:
- Aus Sicht der Grünen ginge es CDU und FDP nicht um einen Badesee, der eh nicht möglich wäre, sondern um die teuren Grundstücke an einem Untersee.
- From the view of the Greens, CDU and FDP are not about a swimming lake, which would not be feasible anyway, but rather the expensive estates adjacent to a Lower Sea [planned to possibly complement the present Upper Sea].
- (colloquial, Austria) well, admittedly (for which in Germany only schon is used)
- Ich hab eh drüber nachgedacht, aber es wär nicht gegangen.
- I did well consider it, but it wouldn't have worked out.
Further reading
- “eh” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Hungarian
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -ɛx
Interjection
eh
Related terms
Further reading
- eh in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
- eh in Ittzés, Nóra (ed.). A magyar nyelv nagyszótára (‘A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published A–ez as of 2024)
Icelandic
Pronoun
eh
- (informal, nonstandard) abbreviation of einhver.
Usage notes
Juǀ'hoan
Pronunciation
Letter
eh (upper case Eh)
- A letter of the Juǀ'hoan alphabet, written in the Latin script.
Manx
Etymology
From Old Irish é (“he, they”), from Proto-Indo-European *éy. Cognate with Irish é and Scottish Gaelic e.
Pronoun
eh (emphatic eshyn)
- he, him
- Cha vel breagerey dy ve credjit ga dy vel eh ginsh yn irriney.
- A liar is not to be believed even if he tells the truth.
- Cur meer da’n feeagh as hig eh reesht.
- Give the raven a bit and he’ll come again.
- Cur lhiat magh eh.
- Bring him out.
- it
- Skeeal eddyr troor, t’eh ersooyl.
- A story between three, it’s gone.
Nauruan
Particle
eh
Norwegian
Interjection
eh
Synonyms
Old English
Pronunciation
Noun
eh m or n
- Alternative form of eoh
Pohnpeian
Etymology 1
Noun
eh
- The name of the Latin-script letter E/e.
Etymology 2
Alternative forms
Determiner
eh
- his, her, hers, its, third person possessive pronoun
- Liho iang eh pwoud.
- The woman joined her husband.
Etymology 3
From Proto-Oceanic *qatay (“liver”), from Proto-Austronesian *qaCay (“liver”)
Noun
eh
Etymology 4
Interjection
eh
Etymology 5
Interjection
eh
- an interjection signifying understanding
- a response used when answering a call in a feast
Portuguese
Pronunciation
- Hyphenation: eh
Verb
eh
- (Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative form of é (“is”)
Interjection
eh
- (Internet slang, text messaging) Alternative form of é (“yeah”)
Romanian
Etymology
Interjection
eh
- expresses dissatisfaction or sadness
References
- eh in Academia Română, Micul dicționar academic, ediția a II-a, Bucharest: Univers Enciclopedic, 2010. →ISBN
Scots
Etymology
Dialectal representation of ee.
Noun
eh (plural ehs)
Southern Ohlone
Noun
eh
Spanish
Pronunciation
Interjection
eh
- hey! (used to call, draw attention, warn or reprehend)
- uh, um (space filler in a conversation, expression of hesitation or pause in speech)
- Synonym: este
Related terms
Further reading
- “eh”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014
Sumerian
Romanization
eh
- Romanization of 𒄴 (eḫ)
Tagalog
Interjection
eh (Baybayin spelling ᜁ)
- Alternative spelling of e
Anagrams
Zou
Pronunciation
Noun
eh
References
- Philip Thanglienmang (2014) “Zou Tonology”, in Indian Linguistics, volume 75, numbers 1-2, →ISSN
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