# ahem

> English word · Interjection · IPA /əˈhɛm/ · frequency rank #20,828

## Definitions
1. The sound of a quiet cough or of clearing one's throat.
2. Demanding attention.
3. Expresses disapproval or annoyance.
4. Indicates the speaker does not wish to be perceived as rude, often intimating an impolite meaning to a third party that the speaker is not addressing.
5. Indicates the speaker does not wish to be perceived as rude, often intimating an impolite meaning to a third party that the speaker is not addressing.

## Etymology
Onomatopoeic.

## Easily confused with
- **AM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-am)
- **are** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-are)
- **arm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-arm)
- **aim** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-aim)
- **ate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ate)
- **ave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ave)
- **aye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-aye)
- **ahh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ahh)
- **ATM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-atm)
- **awe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-awe)
- **axe** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-axe)
- **ale** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ale)
- **ape** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ape)
- **Ahl** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ahl)
- **Ahn** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ahn)
- **AmE** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ame)
- **asm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-asm)
- **alm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-alm)
- **ake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-ake)
- **APM** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ahem-vs-apm)

## Common misspellings (5)
`aehm`, `ahemm`, `ahhem`, `ahme`, `haem`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/ahem