este
/ˈeste/
The English phrase 'uhm' is expressed in Spanish using este.
In Spanish, este is a filler word used to indicate a pause for thought while a speaker is deciding what to say next, functioning similarly to 'um' or 'uh' in English. Speakers may also use the variation este pues in casual settings. Additionally, it is common to use a prolonged eee… sound as a filler during these pauses.
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between the filler word and the masculine singular demonstrative adjective. While este can mean 'this', the listener relies on the context of the conversation to determine whether the speaker is using it as a pointer or as a pause for thought.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeste/
Did you know?
- The filler word este and the direction 'east' share a surprising linguistic history. While they sound identical in Spanish, the filler comes from the Latin 'iste', whereas the direction 'east' is related to the word 'Austria'.
- While este is a common filler in many Latin American countries, speakers in Spain are more likely to use the prolonged eee… sound to fill a silence.
- Using este is a way of 'holding the floor' in a conversation. It signals to the listener that the speaker has not finished their thought and should not be interrupted.
Examples in context
- Este… no estoy muy seguro si eso es correcto.Uhm… I'm not quite sure if that's correct.
- Este pues… creo que deberíamos hacerlo de esta manera.Uhm… I think we should do it this way.
- Este, no estoy muy seguro.Uhm, I am not very sure.
- Este, creo que es mañana.Uhm, I think it is tomorrow.
- ¿Qué quieres comer? Este, no sé.What do you want to eat? Uhm, I don't know.
Example conversation
Alejandro and María are discussing their weekend plans.
- Alejandro¿Vas a venir a la fiesta?Are you coming to the party?
- MaríaEste, tengo que estudiar mucho.Uhm, I have to study a lot.
- AlejandroQué lástima, María.That's a pity, María.
- MaríaSí, lo siento mucho.Yes, I am very sorry.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry este, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries este, CC BY-SA 4.0.
