What does um mean?
Um is an informal English interjection that marks a brief hesitation, uncertainty, or need to gather one's thoughts before continuing. A speaker may use it while searching for words, delaying an answer, or introducing a qualification: “Um, I’m not sure.” It is especially familiar in everyday conversation, although some speakers use uh for a similar purpose. The sound can suggest careful thoughtfulness when used deliberately, but frequent use may make a speaker sound uncertain or evasive. Its meaning is conveyed largely through context, intonation, and punctuation. Um is common in both British and American English, with erm sometimes preferred in British speech. It is mainly a spoken filler rather than a word suited to formal writing, and recognizing it can help a learner understand the social meaning of pauses in conversation.
interjectionAn informal interjection used to indicate a brief hesitation, uncertainty, or pause before speaking. It can also introduce a qualification or soften a comment.
- A hesitation or pause used when a speaker is uncertain, searching for words, or briefly delaying an answer.
- A soft introductory sound used to qualify, soften, or draw attention to what is said next.
"Um, I'm not sure I agree with that."
"Um, could you repeat the question?"
"Um, actually, I have a different suggestion."
Um is one of the smallest ways a speaker can reveal a full stop in their own mind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does um come from?
The precise origin of um is uncertain. It appears to be an expressive hesitation sound rather than a form with a securely traceable root, and similar fillers have developed independently in English and other languages.
How um is actually used
Informal and conversational. In American English, um may sound thoughtful and deliberative or evasive depending on context and delivery; it is generally avoided in formal writing and careful public speaking.
Easily confused with um
Both are hesitation fillers, but um often suggests uncertainty or a deliberate pause, whereas uh commonly signals a brief stumble or throat-clearing sound.
Both are used to gain time while speaking, with erm being particularly associated with British and Irish English and um sounding more common in American English.