mmm
/mmm/from spelling rules
In Spanish, 'hmm' is expressed as mmm.
The interjection mmm is used to indicate that a person is thinking, pondering or reflecting on something.
Meaning: indicating thinking or pondering (intj)
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, people may use Hmm, Mmm or Umm to convey hesitation or thoughtfulness. In Latin America, Mmm and the phrase Pues, no sé… are widespread for similar purposes.
How do you pronounce it?
/mmm/
When do people say it?
When contemplating or being uncertain, speakers in Latin America might also use the popular informal phrase Pues, no sé…
Did you know?
- In Spanish, sounds like mmm and este are known as muletillas, which literally translates to 'little crutches'.
- While an English speaker might use 'hmm' to signal deep thought, a Spanish speaker using a long mmm might actually be signaling that they find something delicious.
- While mmm signifies thought, using eh… as a placeholder is common in Spanish but can be mistaken by English speakers as a question.
Examples in context
- Mmmm, ¿cómo debería decir esto?Hmm, how shall I say this?This example shows how to use mmm when wondering how to phrase something.Tatoeba #1253372 by marcelostockle, translation #24955 by sundown
- Mmm, ¿de verdad lo quieres saber?Hmm, do you really want to know?This example demonstrates using mmm when questioning if someone truly wants information.Tatoeba #1136064 by Shishir, translation #1334564 by marcelostockle
- Mmm…Hmm…This example shows mmm used alone to indicate silent thought.Tatoeba #8252670 by MilkFrosties, translation #5264786 by pititnatole
- ¿Crees que debería comprar este vestido? Pues, no sé… Creo que deberías probártelo primero.Do you think I should buy this dress? Hmm… I don't know. I think you should try it on first.
- ¿Has revisado el informe de ventas? Déjame pensarlo un momento, por favor.Have you reviewed the sales report? Let me think about it for a moment, please.
- ¿Quieres comer pizza esta noche? Mmm… sí, suena bien. Hagámoslo.Do you want to have pizza tonight? Hmm… yes, sounds good. Let's do it.
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are deciding which movie to watch.
- LucíaMmm, ¿qué película prefieres?Hmm, which movie do you prefer?
- DanielMmm, no estoy seguro todavía.Hmm, I am not sure yet.
- LucíaMmm, ¿tal vez una de acción?Hmm, maybe an action one?
- DanielMmm, esa suena bien.Hmm, that sounds good.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
