# huh

Pronunciation: say "HUH" /hʌ/

## Interjection

1. Added at the end of a statement or question to ask for agreement or to press for an answer. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: Added at the end of what you say to ask if someone agrees, or to push them to answer.
   - _Pretty good movie in the end, huh?_
   - _You two have known each other for years, huh?_
2. Said when you are confused by something, or did not hear or understand it and want it repeated.
   - Simple: Said when you do not understand something or did not hear it and want it said again.
   - _Huh? None of these instructions match what's actually on the screen._
   - _Huh? Sorry, the music was so loud that I missed what you just said._
3. Said to express mild amusement or quiet surprise at something noticed.
   - Simple: Said when something mildly surprises you or makes you smile.
   - _Huh, this little café has been here for forty years and I never noticed._
   - _Huh, turns out my grandfather wrote songs back in his twenties._
4. Said either to belittle a person's statement, or, with feigned surprise, to agree sarcastically that what they said is a huge understatement. *(slang)*
   - Simple: Said in a flat tone to mock someone, or in a fake-surprised tone to agree in an over-the-top way.
   - _Huh. And you thought nobody would notice the missing money?_
   - _When he solemnly announced that exams can be stressful, she just said "Huh!" with mock surprise._
5. A written representation of a short, low chuckling sound.
   - Simple: The sound written down when someone gives a short, low chuckle.
   - _Huh, huh, the old man laughed quietly to himself in the corner._
   - _He gave a quiet chuckle, "huh, huh," when he saw the cartoon his daughter had drawn of him._
6. A written representation of the sound of heavy breathing.
   - Simple: The sound written down for heavy, tired breathing.
   - _Huh, huh, the runner gasped as he crossed the finish line._
   - _Huh... huh... came the labored breaths from the climber near the summit._

## Other meanings

- (interjection) A sharp shout given as a punch or kick is thrown, used in martial arts.

## Origin

Attested from around 1600, and comparable to Dutch "hè" ("huh").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/huh (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).