eh
Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener…Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.
Recorded UK: That Northern Irish Historian, CC0, Wikimedia Commons · Recorded US: Tawker, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
» Seems we've got a rebel in our midst, eh?
Кажется, среди нас есть бунтовщик, а? — Ooneykcall
Здається, серед нас є бунтар, еге ж? — deniko
Ooneykcall · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FRTranslations
8 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 2
By meaning 2
Examples
61 sentencesSeems we've got a rebel in our midst, eh?
Здається, серед нас є бунтар, еге ж? — deniko
ruКажется, среди нас есть бунтовщик, а? — Ooneykcall
Bit of a surprise, eh?
Несподіванка, еге ж? — deniko
ruНемного неожиданно, да? — Wezel
deKleine Überraschung, was? — Melang
Stay humble, eh?
Не зазнавайтесь, еге ж? — deniko · CC BY 2.0 FR
Meaning
11 senses(Australia, Canada, Commonwealth, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, UK, informal)Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.
These hot dogs are pretty good, eh?
gell, oder, ne
правдаpravda, не так лиne tak li, аa
гаha, еге жehe ž, чи не такčy ne tak
(Canada)An interjection used to ascertain the continued attention of someone addressed by the speaker.
I went to the restaurant, eh, but my friends didn't show up.
ne, nicht
In isolation, expressing surprise or confusion.
—You're going to be a dad! —Eh? You're joking!
More meanings 8
In isolation, a request for repetition or clarification of what has just been said.
—I've been studying Graphiurus murinus. —Eh? Studying what?
Expressing apathy or lack of enthusiasm; meh.
—Do you feel like going out tonight? —Eh, I don't know.
(Philippines)Expressing apprehension following or preceding a reasoning or excuse; uh.
—Why is it like this? —Eh, It's like that eh.
(Singapore)An interjection expressing disapproval.
Eh, please don’t say that...
(Multicultural London English, Singapore)An attention grabber
Eh, come here!
Eh, what do you have?
(Singapore, Singlish, impolite, usually)Hey, oi; said to get someone's attention.
(Singapore)Huh?; expresses confusion.
(Internet, Singapore, informal)A greeting between friends (typically male) or display of approval.
Origin
Natural exclamation; first recorded mid-16th century. Perhaps an unstressed variant of ayeNatural exclamation; first recorded mid-16th century. Perhaps an unstressed variant of aye (“yes, yeah”).
From Hokkien 欸 (--eh) and Mandarin 欸 (ê̄ / ế / ê̌, interjection).
Probably of multiple motivations, the sounds having been chosen for functional reasons.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Dictionary text adapted from Wiktionary (Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet / Princeton WordNet (CC BY 4.0, WordNet License); shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. Example sentences and recordings are credited where they appear.