intj
Common
um
uhm
Um (intj) means a filler sound used to express hesitation or uncertainty while speaking. Example: “Um, could you say that again, please? I missed the last part.”
intj
1
A filler sound used to express hesitation or uncertainty while speaking.
"Um, could you say that again, please? I missed the last part."
"Well, um, I thought we might go somewhere quieter for lunch."
""Um, I don't really know how to answer that," he admitted."
"Um And I don't know um what to say to the court other than, I don't know how we could get through 1/5 of that."
— , Baldwin Judge on FIRE! (2024)
"It's a great test of the claims of open-source gurus, who say that a self-motivated community can outcode any team working for a single employer—like, um, Microsoft."
— “Newsweek”, Newsweek (2002)
How to use um
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hesitation sound people make while thinking of what to say.
When to use it
Purely spoken/informal; a natural pause-filler, not used in formal writing.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like um.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- ums
- Third person singular
- ums
- Past tense
- ummed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, could you say that again, please? I missed the last part.
Etymology
This is a variant form of -um.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “um” mean?
The word “um” means a filler sound used to express hesitation or uncertainty while speaking. In plain terms, a hesitation sound people make while thinking of what to say.
How do you pronounce “um”?
“Um” is pronounced uhm (/ʌm/ in IPA).
How do you use “um” in a sentence?
Here is “um” used in a sentence: “"Um, I don't really know how to answer that," he admitted.”
What part of speech is “um”?
“Um” is an intj.
Is “um” a common word?
“Um” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between um and uh?
Both um and uh are filler sounds that signal hesitation while speaking. Um includes a closing m sound and often marks a slightly longer pause or a search for the right word, while uh is shorter and more open, though speakers use them interchangeably.
Should you use um in formal writing?
No. Um belongs to spoken language as a hesitation sound and is avoided in formal writing. It appears in print mainly to represent speech in dialogue, interviews, or transcripts.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include um:
