French Conversation · Level 130
46 words
French word
bah
Pronunciation
IPA/ba/
Meaning
- interjectionwell
Example
Il a dit bah et il est parti.
He said "well" and left.
More examples
Bah non.
Well, no.
Core concept
A brief spoken puff that pauses a response before a hesitant or mildly surprised reaction.
Common phrases
bah oui
Well, yes
bah non
Well, no
Similar words
euh: A short filler sound used while gathering one's thoughts.
ben: A brief, colloquial reply that conveys hesitation.
Definition in French
S'utilise pour marquer une hésitation, une réserve ou un faible étonnement dans un échange oral, prononcée de façon brève et spontanée.
Word origin
Bah is an expressive French interjection generally treated as sound-symbolic, with its short form reflecting a spontaneous vocal reaction.
Usage tips
- In speech, intonation determines whether bah sounds hesitant, mildly surprised, or dismissive, so the same spelling covers several restrained reactions.
Other meanings
- huhinterjection