Inklingo

How to Say "er" in Spanish

English → Spanish

eh

/ey//e/

InterjectionA2Informal
Use 'eh' as a simple filler sound when you pause briefly to think, similar to 'uhm' or 'um' in English.
A young person sitting at a desk, pausing mid-thought, looking upward with a hesitant expression as they gather their thoughts.

Examples

No sé qué película ver... eh... quizás la de comedia.

I don't know what movie to watch... uhm... maybe the comedy.

Te llamo porque, eh, necesito un favor.

I'm calling you because, er, I need a favor.

este

/ES-teh//ˈeste/

InterjectionB1Informal
Employ 'este' as a filler word when you need a moment to gather your thoughts before continuing, often before starting a sentence or explaining something.
A person pausing mid-sentence with a thoughtful look, as if searching for a word.

Examples

Quería decirte que... este... lo siento.

I wanted to tell you that... um... I'm sorry.

Dame un segundo, este... no me acuerdo.

Give me a second, uh... I don't remember.

uh

/oo//u/

InterjectionA1Informal
Use 'uh' as a direct equivalent to the British English 'uh' when you are hesitant or unsure about what to say next.
A young character pausing mid-sentence with a finger on their chin, indicating deep thought or hesitation.

Examples

Uh... no estoy seguro de la respuesta.

Uh... I'm not sure of the answer.

¿Puedes ayudarme? — Uh, sí, claro, ¿qué necesitas?

Can you help me? — Um, yeah, of course, what do you need?

Necesito comprar... uh... pan, leche y huevos.

I need to buy... uh... bread, milk, and eggs.

Using 'Uh' as a Filler Word

'Uh' is a sound you make when you need a moment to think before you speak. It's like saying 'um' or 'uh' in English and signals to the listener that you're about to say something.

Overusing Filler Words

Mistake: “Quiero... uh... ir... uh... al cine... uh... contigo.”

Correction: Using 'uh' is natural, but using it too much can make you sound hesitant. Try pausing silently sometimes to sound more confident.

urgencias

/oor-HEN-see-as//uɾˈxen.sjas/

nounA2Neutral
This is not an interjection; 'urgencias' is a noun meaning 'emergency room' or 'emergencies' and is used when referring to a medical facility for urgent care.
A brightly lit hospital hallway leading to a closed door, which is prominently marked with a large, green Star of Life symbol, indicating the emergency room.

Examples

Llevamos al niño a urgencias porque se cayó de la bicicleta.

We took the child to the emergency room because he fell off the bike.

La sala de urgencias está siempre llena los fines de semana.

The emergency ward is always full on weekends.

Always Plural

Even though it refers to a single department, 'urgencias' is almost always used in the plural form ('las urgencias') when talking about the hospital area.

Using the Singular

Mistake: “Fui a la urgencia.”

Correction: Fui a urgencias. (You must use the plural form when referring to the ER.)

Interjection vs. Noun Confusion

The most common mistake is confusing the filler words ('eh', 'este', 'uh') with the noun 'urgencias'. Remember that 'urgencias' refers to the emergency room and is never used as a pause in speech. Always ensure you are using a filler word when you mean to pause, and the noun 'urgencias' only when you are talking about medical emergencies.

Related Translations

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