# huh

> English word · Interjection · IPA /hʌ/ · frequency rank #4,532

## Definitions
1. Used to express doubt or confusion.
2. Used to express amusement or subtle surprise.
3. Used to reinforce a question.
4. Used either to belittle the issuer of a statement/question, or sarcastically to indicate utter agreement, and that the statement being responded to is an extreme understatement. The intonation is changed to distinguish between the two meanings - implied dullness for belittlement, and feigned surprise for utter agreement.
5. Used to indicate that one did not hear what was said.
6. Used to create a tag question.
7. Representing the sound of heavy breathing.
8. Representing a chuckling sound.
9. A kiai, shouted as a limb is swung in attack.

## Etymology
Attested from circa 1600. Compare Dutch hè (“huh”).

## Easily confused with
- **hv** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hv)
- **hut** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hut)
- **hum** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hum)
- **hun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hun)
- **hwy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hwy)
- **hye** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hye)
- **hui** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hui)
- **Hur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hur)
- **Hus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hus)
- **Huw** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-huw)
- **hurt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hurt)
- **hunt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hunt)
- **hung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hung)
- **hull** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hull)
- **hulk** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hulk)
- **hush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hush)
- **Hyun** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hyun)
- **hump** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hump)
- **Hume** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-hume)
- **huts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/huh-vs-huts)

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