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How to Say "uh" in Spanish

English → Spanish

uh

/oo//u/

InterjectionA1Informal
Use this when you need a very brief pause to think, similar to the direct English equivalent, often at the very start of a thought or sentence.
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.

este

/ES-teh//ˈeste/

InterjectionB1Informal
Use this as a slightly more deliberate pause or filler word when you are searching for the right word or phrase, often when you've already started speaking.
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.

Choosing between 'uh' and 'este'

Learners often use 'uh' for any pause, but 'este' is more common when you're actively searching for the right word mid-sentence. 'Uh' is a simpler, quicker hesitation sound, while 'este' can imply a slightly longer thought process.

Related Translations

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