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How to Say "um" in Spanish

The most common Spanish word for “um” is “este” — use 'este' when you are pausing to think, often before continuing a thought or correction, similar to 'well' or 'so' in English..

English → Spanish

este

/ES-teh//ˈeste/

InterjectionB1filler word
Use 'este' when you are pausing to think, often before continuing a thought or correction, similar to 'well' or 'so' in English.
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/

InterjectionA1filler word
Use 'uh' as a simple, brief pause to indicate hesitation or uncertainty, like a basic filler sound.
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 vs. Uh

Learners sometimes overthink the difference between 'este' and 'uh'. While 'este' can imply a slightly longer pause or a thought being formulated, 'uh' is the most basic and universally understood filler sound for hesitation.

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