äh
/ɛː/
The German filler word for "um" is äh.
äh is a filler word used in speech to signal a pause while the speaker thinks of what to say next.
Which one should you use?
The form ähm is a common variation of äh that more closely mimics the English "um" by adding a nasal "m" sound at the end. Moment is a casual way to say "um" and is used to buy a few seconds to think.
How do you pronounce it?
/ɛː/
Did you know?
- In high-pressure German academic or professional environments, silence is sometimes preferred over using filler words like äh, as silence is seen as more authoritative than 'filling' the air.
- While äh is common, speakers often use halt or quasi as filler words to bridge gaps in a sentence, similar to how English speakers use 'like'.
- German has a specific term for the habit of using filler words: Füllwörter. These are words that add no semantic meaning but manage the flow of conversation.
Examples in context
- Ähm…Um…This example shows the use of äh as a standalone hesitation.Tatoeba #5333031 by Ganbatte94, translation #10184669 by shekitten
- „Wie lauten die zwölf Tierkreiszeichen in der Reihenfolge, in welcher die Sonne sie im Laufe eines Jahres durchquert?“ – „Äh, lass mich kurz überlegen!“ – „Nix da überlegen! Das muss wie aus der Pistole geschossen kommen!“"What are the twelve signs of the Zodiac, in the order in which the sun passes them by in the course of a year?" – "Um, let me think for a minute!" – "No thinking! It's got to come as quick as a shot!"This sentence demonstrates how to use äh when you need a moment to think of an answer.Tatoeba #3968640 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #3973438 by coynejeremy
- Es ist das – äh – dingsbums. Es liegt mir auf der Zunge, aber ich kann mir den Namen einfach nicht merken.It's that, you know, um, whatchamacallit. It's on the tip of my tongue, but I just can't remember the name!This sentence shows how äh can be used when searching for a specific word or name.Tatoeba #6930429 by raggione, translation #1528012 by marshmallowcat
- Äh, ich weiß nicht genau, wie ich das erklären soll.Um, I'm not exactly sure how to explain that.
Example conversation
Julia and Felix are looking for a specific book in a shop.
- JuliaWo ist das Buch über… äh, die Geschichte?Where is the book about… um, history?
- FelixÄh, ich glaube, es steht dort hinten.Um, I think it is over there in the back.
- JuliaMeinst du das rote Buch?Do you mean the red book?
- FelixJa, genau das.Yes, exactly that one.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry äh, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
