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Cartoon expressions8/3/2023 Olé, with an accent mark over the e, is borrowed from Spanish and is a vocal flourish to celebrate a deft or adroit maneuver. Oh-oh (or alternatives in which oh is followed by various words) is a warning response to something that will have negative repercussions. (Ooh is a variant useful for the last two purposes.) Use it to indicate comprehension or acknowledgment (or, with a question mark, a request for verification), to preface direct address (“Oh, sir!”), as a sign of approximation or example (“Oh, about three days”), or to express emotion or serves as a response to a pain or pleasure. Oh is among the most versatile of interjections. Now (often repeated “Now, now”) is uttered as an admonition. Neener-neener, often uttered in a series of three repetitions, is a taunt. Mwah is suggestive of a kiss, often implying unctuous or exaggerated affection. Mmm, extended as needed, conveys palatable or palpable pleasure. Mm-hmm, variously spelled, is an affirmative or corroborating response. Lah-de-dah denotes nonchalance or dismissal, or derision about pretension. Hurrah (also hoorah, hooray, and hurray, and even huzzah) is an exclamation of triumph or happiness. Hup, from the sound-off a military cadence chant, signals beginning an exerting task. Huh (or hunh) is a sign of disbelief, confusion, or surprise, or, with a question mark, is a request for repetition. Hubba-hubba is the vocal equivalent of a leer. Ho-ho is expressive of mirth, or (along with its variant oh-ho) can indicate triumph of discovery. Hmph (also hrmph or humph) indicates displeasure or indignation. Hm, extended as needed, suggests curiosity, confusion, consternation, or skepticism. Hey can express surprise or exultation, or can be used to request repetition or call for attention. Hee-hee is a mischievous laugh, while its variants heh and heh-heh (and so on) can have a more derisive connotation. Hardy-har-har, or har-har repeated as needed, communicates mock amusement. Hamana-hamana, variously spelled, and duplicated as needed, implies speechless embarrassment. Ha-ha (with possible redoubling) communicates laughter or derision. Ha expresses joy or surprise, or perhaps triumph. Gak is an expression of disgust or distaste. They are interjections - one class of them, anyway: those lacking etymological origins but packed with meaning.īut how do you know how to distinguish similar ones - or spell them, for that matter? Here’s an incomplete inventory of interjections (not including variations of actual words such as yeah for yes or onomatopoeic echoes of externally produced sounds like boom):Īh can denote positive emotions like relief or delight (generally, pronounced with a long a).Īha signals triumph or surprise, or perhaps derision.Īrgh, often drawn out with additional h’s, is all about frustration.Īw can be dismissive or indicative of disappointment, or, when drawn out, expressive of sympathy or adoration.īlah communicates boredom or disappointment.īoo-hoo is imitative of crying and is derisive.īoo-ya (with several spelling variants) is a cry of triumph.īwah-hah-hah (variously spelled, including mwah-hah-hah) facetiously mimics the stereotypical archvillain’s triumphant laugh.ĭ’oh is the spelling for the muttering accompanying Homer Simpson’s trademark head-slapping self-abuse.Įh, with a question mark, is a request for repetition or confirmation of what was just said without, it is dismissive.Įw denotes disgust, intensified by the addition of one or more e’s and/or w’s.įeh (and its cousin meh) is an indication of feeling underwhelmed or disappointed. They often seem disreputable, like sullen idlers loitering in a public thoroughfare, but they actually do a lot of hard work and are usually persnickety about the tasks to which they are put.
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