French word

eh

Pronunciation

IPA/e/

Meaning

  • interjectionhuh

Example

Eh ? Tu pars déjà ?

Huh? Are you leaving already?

Illustration for eh (huh)

More examples

Eh pardon, tu peux répéter ?

Huh, sorry, can you repeat that?

Core concept

A small verbal tap that briefly opens a shared pause for attention, mild surprise, or confirmation.

Common phrases

  • eh pardon ?

    Huh, sorry?

Similar words

hein: A brief utterance asking someone to repeat what they said.
pardon: A brief, polite request to repeat what was said.
quoi: A sharp, surprised cry of What?
ah bon: A brief exclamation showing surprise and interest.

Definition in French

S'emploie pour attirer l'attention, marquer une légère surprise ou demander une confirmation de ce que vient de dire l'interlocuteur.

Word origin

Eh is an expressive interjection formed from a speech sound, with no securely established derivation from a specific lexical root.

Usage tips

  • Rising intonation makes eh sound like a request for confirmation, while flatter delivery more readily signals attention or mild surprise.

Other meanings

  • heyinterjection

Word lists with this word