ajá
/aˈxa/
The Spanish word for the English 'mhm' is ajá.
ajá is an informal sound used to signal that you are following a conversation, or to express agreement, much like the English 'mhm' or 'uh-huh'.
Which one should you use?
While commonly used to mean 'mhm' for agreement, ajá can also function as an exclamation of surprise or realization, similar to the English 'Aha!'
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈxa/
Did you know?
- A sudden, loud ajá! can function as a verbal trap. It is frequently used to announce that someone has been caught in a lie or a mistake, acting as the equivalent of 'Gotcha!'
- In some Caribbean dialects, ajá functions as a conversational bridge rather than a response. It is often used at the start of a sentence to mean 'so' or 'well', helping to transition to a new topic.
- The sound ajá is closely related to the Spanish word ya, which means 'already' but is frequently used as a standalone 'mhm' to show that the listener has understood the point.
Examples in context
- Ajá, entiendo lo que dices.Mhm, I see what you are saying.
- Ajá, eso suena muy bien.Mhm, that sounds very good.
Example conversation
Sofía is telling Alejandro about her plans for the weekend.
- AlejandroSofía, ¿qué vas a hacer este sábado?Sofía, what are you doing this Saturday?
- SofíaVoy a ir a la montaña con mi hermana.I am going to the mountains with my sister.
- AlejandroAjá, ¿y vas a volver tarde?Mhm, and are you coming back late?
- SofíaSí, probablemente regrese por la noche.Yes, I will probably return at night.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ajá, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
