Interjections

 
Interjections

An interjection is a kind of exclamation inserted into regular speech. Actually, it is a brief and abrupt pause in speech for expressing emotions.

Interjections are unique and have some interesting features:

  1. Interjections don’t have a grammatical function in the sentence construction.
  2. They usually cannot be modified or inflected.
  3. They do not have to have a relation to the other parts of the sentence.
  4. They are highly context-sensitive.

In spoken language, interjections are the words we instantly use to show our reaction to something which influences our emotion. They are the initial reaction and sometimes do not even make sense. However, for formal speech or writing, using interjections is not appropriate.

Interjections mainly have four roles:

Rule 1: Interjections express a sudden mood, emotions, and feeling with emphasis. There are also many taboo words that are usually used in everyday conversation but not in formal aspects. These words fall into the category of interjections.

  • Wow! That’s an amazing scene.
  • Aw, I did not want him to come.
  • What? You never told me that!

Rule 2: Some interjections interrupt a conversation or a thought or hold someone’s attention for a moment. These are just sounds, not words because these sounds do not make any sense.

  • Your, um, shirt has a stain on the back.
  • I want to, uh, ask you out on a date.

Rule 3: Some interjections express only yes or no.

  • Yes! I will most definitely do it.
  • Nah, we are not going.

Rule 4: Some interjections are used to get someone’s attention.

  • Yo, Alex! Get in the car!
  • Hey! Will you give me that ball?
  • Yoo-hoo! Is there anyone?

List of Interjections 

Aah /ɑː/

Expressing pleasure: 
  • “Aah, that’s great!”
Expressing realization:
  •  “Aah, now I see what you mean.”
Expressing resignation: 
  • “Aah, I give up!”
Expressing surprise/shock:
  • “Aah! It’s eating my leg!”

Ah /ɑː/

Expressing pleasure: 
  • “Ah, this coffee is good.”
Expressing realization: 
  • “Ah, now I understand.”
Expressing resignation: 
  • “Ah!Well, I’ll have to come back tomorrow.”
Expressing surprise: 
  • “Ah! There you are!”

Aha /ɑːˈhɑː/

Understanding, triumph

  • “Aha! So you planned all this, did you?”

Ahem /əˈhem/

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.

  • “Ahem! Can I make a suggestion?”

Alas /əˈlæs/

Alas meaning: Expressing grief or pity

  •  “Alas, my love, I must leave now.”

Aargh /ɑː(r)/

Expressing annoyance, anger or frustration

  • “Argh, get that cat off the table!”

Aw, Aww /ɔː/

Expressing mild disappointment or protest: 

  • “Aw, come on, Andy!”
Shows sentimental approval: 
  • “Aww! Just look at that kitten.”
Feeling sorry or pity for someone: 
  • “Aww, that’s so sad, he hasn’t yet learned to ride a bike.”

Bah /bɑː/

Expressing dismissive or annoyed

  • “Bah, I never liked him anyways.”

Behold /bɪˈhəʊld/

Expressing attention

  • “Behold! The bride comes.”

Bingo /ˈbɪŋɡəʊ/

Acknowledge something as right

  • “Bingo! That’s the one I’ve been looking for.”

Boo /buː/

Expressing disapproval, contempt: 

  • “Boo!” they shouted, “Get off!”
A noise used to scare people by surprise:
  • “I jumped out from the closet and yelled “boo!”

Bravo /ˌbrɑːˈvəʊ/

Expressing approval

  • “Bravo, Rena! You’re right.”

Brrr /bər/

Being cold, shivering

  • “Brrr, it’s cold out there.”

Dear /dɪə(r)/

Expressing pity: 
  • “Oh dear! I’ve lost my keys again.”
Expressing surprise:
  • “Dear me! What a mess!”

Duh /dʌ/

Expressing annoyance over something stupid or obvious:

  • “Duh, you should always lock up your bike.”

Eek /iːk/

Girly scream. Surprised, scared

  • “Eeek, It moved!”

Eh /eɪ/

Asking for repetition: 
  • “It’s hot today.” “Eh?” “I said it’s hot today.”
Expressing enquiry: 
  • “Eh? She’s got how many children?”
Expressing surprise: 
  • “Another new dress, eh!”
Inviting agreement: 
  • “Let’s drink to his memory, eh??”
Question something: 
  • “So you won’t go tomorrow, eh?”

Er /ɜː(r)/

Expressing hesitation

  • “Lima is the capital of…er…Peru.”

Eww /ˈiːuː/

Expressing disgust, dislike

  • “Eww, there’s a fly in my lemonade!”

Gah

Expressing exasperation and despair

  • “Gah, I can’t do it!”

Gee /dʒiː/

Expressing surprise, enthusiasm, or just general emphasis

  • “Gee, , what a great idea!”

Grrr /ɡər/

Expressing anger, snarling, growling. Often used for dogs and other animals

  • “Grrr, I’ll hit your head!”

Hah /hɑː/

The first syllable of “hahaha”, when something is just a little funny

  • “Hah, you are out.”

Hmm /m/

Expressing hesitation, doubt or disagreement

  • “Hmm! ! I don’t know much about it.”

Hello /həˈləʊ/

Expressing greeting: 

  • “Hello, Phoebe. Merry Christmas!”
Expressing surprise: 
  • “Hello! My car’s gone!”

Hey /heɪ/

Calling attention: 

  • “Hey everybody, listen up!”
Expressing surprise, joy, etc: 
  • “Hey, buddy! Is this your car?”

Hi /haɪ/

Expressing greeting

  • “Hi, Barbara, how are you?”

Huh /hʌ/

Mild, indifferent surprise

  • “Huh, you were right.”

Humph /həmf/

A snort, to express dislike, disbelief or annoyance

  • “Humph! That makes me so upset! The kitten is so mean!”

Hurrah /həˈrɑː/

Generic exclamation of joy

  • “We’ve done it! Hurrah!”

Meh /me/

Indifference

  • “Meh, there’s nothing great about it.”

Mhm /əmˈhm/

Agreement, acknowledgement

  • “Do you think so too?” “Mhm!”

Mwahaha /ˈmwɑːhɑːhɑːhɑː/

Evil villain’s triumphant laugh

  • “I switched the sugar and the salt! Muahaha!”

Nuh-uh /ˈnʌˌʌ/

Childish negation or refusal

  • “I kick you!” “Nuh-uh!” “Yuh-uh!” “Nuh-uh!”

Oh /əʊ/

Expressing realization: 

  • “Oh, you scared me.”
Expressing surprise: 
  • “Oh, how wonderful!”
Expressing pain: 
  • “Oh! I have a terrific headache.”
Expressing pleading: 
  • “Oh, please, you must believe me.”

Ooh-la-la  /ˈuː.læ.læ/

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

  • “A seven layer wedding cake? Ooh-la-la!”

Ooh /uː/

Wonder, amazement (ohhh can also mean ahhh)

  • “Ooh, what a lovely dress!”

Oomph /ʊmf/

A grunt made on sudden exertion. Also used as a noun to mean “power” or “energy” (“This song needs more oomph!”)

  • “Push on 3.. 1, 2, 3.. oomph!”

Oops /ʊps/

Being surprised at or acknowledging your own mistakes

  • “Oops! I did it again!”

Oww

Expressing pain

  • “Oww, you stepped on my foot!”

Ouch /aʊtʃ/

Exclamation of pain

  • “Ouch, that hurt! Stop pinching me!”

Oy /ɔɪ/

Mainly Jewish, Used to express self-pity, similar to “woe is me!”

  • “Oy! I left my purse at home.”

Pew /pjuː/

Used for foul odors

  • “Pew, this blanket smells a bit fusty.”

Pff /pjuː/

Expressing unimpressed

  • “Pff, I once caught a fish twice that size!”

Phew /fjuː/

Expressing relief

  • “Phew, I’m glad that’s all over”

Psst /pst/

Used to quietly get someone’s attention, often to tell them a secret.

  • “Psst. Let’s get out now before they see us!”

Sheesh /ʃiːʃ/

Expressing exasperation, annoyance (corruption of “Jesus”)

  • “Sheesh, now he’s drunk again!”

Shh /ʃiːʃ/

Used to make someone be quiet

  • “Shh, I can’t hear what he’s saying.”

Shoo /ʃuː/

Used to drive away animals or small children

  • “Shoo, all of you, I’m busy!”

Tsk-tsk

Expressing disappointment or contempt

  • “Tsk-tsk, I think you’re wrong about that.”

Uh-huh /ʌ ˈhʌ/

Agreement, acknowledgement (easily confused with uh-uh)

  • “Can I sit here?” “Uh huh!”

Uh-oh /ˈʌ əʊ/

Concerned for indications that something will happen

  • “Uh-oh, I think I just deleted all my work.”

Uh-uh /ˈʌ ʌ/

Refusal, especially if your mouth is full or if you refuse to open it

  • “Is Paul here yet?” “Uh-uh!”

Uhh

Indicates a pause in, rather than the end of, a sentence

  • “Six times three is… uhh… 18.”

Um, Umm /ʌm/

Expressing hesitation

  • “85 divided by 5 is…um…17.”

Wee /wiː/

Used by children when doing something fun, and often ironically by adults when something is fun but childish

“Weee! Faster!”

Well /wel/

Expressing surprise: 

  • “Well, so Steve got the job?”
Introducing a remark: 
  • “Well, what did he say?”

Whoa /wəʊ/

Can be used to suggest caution as in here, and also stereo typically used by marijuana smokers to express dumbfounded amazement (“whoa, look at the colors!”). Originally a sound used to make horses stop.

  • “Whoa, take it easy!”

Wow /waʊ/

Wow meaning: Impressed, astonished

  • “Wow! Holy cow! That’s great!”

Yahoo /ˈjɑːhuː/

Generic exclamation of joy

  • “Yahoo, we did it!”

Yay /jeɪ/

All-purpose cheer. Approval, congratulations and triumph

  • “Yay! Gilas is in for the Quarterfinals!”

Yeah /jeə/

Yeah meaning: Common slang for “yes”, sometimes also used as an interjection.

  • “Yeah! She’s going with us tonight!”

Yikes /jaɪks/

Fear and alarm.

  • “Yikes, my mother’s home!”

Yippee /jɪˈpiː/

Exclamation of celebration

  • “No school for five weeks – yippee!”

Yoo-hoo /ˈjuː huː/

The often ironic/comical, seductive call of a woman to get someone’s attention

  • “Yoo-hoo, buttercup! Come give me a hug!”

Yuh-uh

Childish affirmation often used to counter “nuh-uh!” (not to be confused with yoo-hoo).

  • “I kick you!” “Nuh-uh!” “Yuh-uh!” “Nuh-uh!”

Yuck /jʌk/

Yuck meaning: Disgust, dislike

  • “Yuck! I hate mayonnaise.”

Zing /zɪŋ/

Used (often ironically) to punctuate a punch line or witty comeback.

  • “You’re so stupid! You’d trip over a wireless phone!” “Zing!”