эм
em[ɛm]
The English phrase "um" can be translated into Russian as эм (em).
эм is a filler word used by speakers when they are pausing to think or hesitating. In addition to эм, Russians also frequently use эээ, which is a prolonged e sound, to signal hesitation.
How do you pronounce it?
em
When do people say it?
Russian speakers have various ways to fill pauses depending on the context and social setting. A speaker might use Ну informally to fill a pause, express hesitation or even indicate mild annoyance. Younger speakers often use Типа to indicate approximation or similarity when hesitating, or use Значит to mean "so" or "basically". The word Так is also common in informal speech to fill a pause or to express mild confusion or uncertainty.
Did you know?
- In very formal Russian rhetoric, speakers may avoid filler words entirely, preferring a complete silence to signal deep thought, which can feel unnervingly long to English speakers.
- While эм is used as a filler, it is also the exact phonetic sound of the letter 'M' in the Russian alphabet, making its use as a hesitation sound a literal pronunciation of a letter.
- Russian speakers often use the word как бы (literally 'as if') as a sophisticated filler to soften a statement, much like how English speakers use 'kind of'.
Examples in context
- А-а… Эм-м-м… Нет, прости. Я не знаю.Uh…Um…No, sorry. I don't know.This sentence shows how to use эм when expressing hesitation or uncertainty.Tatoeba #10087216 by ZegPhig, translation #10087218 by DJ_Saidez
- Эм, я не уверен, что смогу прийти.Em, ya ne uveren, chto smogu priyti.Um, I am not sure that I can come.
- Эм… как это называется по-русски?Em… kak eto nazyvaetsya po-russki?Um… how do you say this in Russian?
Example conversation
Andrey and Maria are trying to remember a movie title.
- Андрей AndreyТы помнишь тот старый фильм?Ty pomnish' tot staryy fil'm?Do you remember that old movie?
- Мария MariaЭм, кажется, он был очень грустным.Em, kazhetsya, on byl ochen' grustnym.Um, I think it was very sad.
- Андрей AndreyДа, именно про это я и говорю.Da, imenno pro eto ya i govoryu.Yes, that is exactly what I am talking about.
- Мария MariaНо я всё равно не могу вспомнить название.No ya vsyo ravno ne mogu vspomnit' nazvaniye.But I still can't remember the title.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry эм, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
