A hesitation sound or filler word used in speech to indicate uncertainty, thinking, or a pause while searching for words. Expresses doubt or consideration.
A natural vocalization that appears across many languages with similar forms. In English, documented from the 1600s as a representation of the instinctive sound humans make when hesitating or thinking during speech.
Linguists call words like 'umm' 'filled pauses' - they're not meaningless but actually serve important communicative functions, signaling to listeners that you're still thinking and haven't finished speaking. Different cultures have different preferred filler sounds: Japanese speakers often say 'ano' or 'eto', while Spanish speakers might say 'este'.
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