20 Examples of Interjections in English

Interjections

The interjections are the words that are not a part of speech. They are equivalent to sentences that express a feeling, an energetic call or describe an action in a very schematic way.

The interjections they can appear alone, that is, without being part of a larger sentence, and followed by a punctuation or exclamation mark. It is important to remember that in English exclamation marks (as well as question marks) are only written at the end of the sentence and not at the beginning.

Examples of interjections in English

To express joy

1. Yeah! / Yes! Example: Yeah! I got the job. / Yes! I got the job.
2. Bingo! / Although it literally means "bingo", it is used in any circumstance in which there is a stroke of luck or something is discovered. I was looking everywhere for the perfect dress until, bingo! I found it in the new store. / I looked everywhere for the perfect dress until bingo! I found it at the new store.

To silence someone

1. Shh. Example: Shh, don't talk during the movie. / Shh, don't talk during the movie.

For call the atention

1. Ahem / Ahem. Imitates the sound of clearing your throat. Example: Ahem… excuse me, is this seat taken? / Ahem… excuse me, is this chair taken?
2. Hey / Hears! It is used out loud to get the attention of someone who has not seen us. Example: Hey! Michael! What a surprise to see you here. / Hears! Michael! What a surprise to see you here.
3. Psst. It is used to draw attention to a single person without making too much noise. Example: Psst, John, we're here, don't wake up the baby. / Pst, John, we're here, don't wake the baby.

To boo

1. Booo. It is used the same as in Spanish the "bu"

To express anger

1. Grr! It is an imitation of a growl. It is not usually used in spoken language but it is used in written language. Example: I hate my boss, grr. / I hate my boss, grr.
2. Argh! Express anger and frustration. Example: I will spend the whole summer in the city, argh! / I'll be spending the whole summer in the city, argh!

To express indifference

1. Bah… Example: "You will fail this test if you don't study." "Bah, whatever." / "You will fail the exam if you don't study"
2. Meh.. Example: "Did you like the movie?" "Meh ..." / "Did you like the movie?" "I didn't care."

To express doubt or disbelief

1. Hmm… A sound that expresses doubt about what the interlocutor is saying.
2. Yeah... Without exclamatory intonation, this "yes" is ironic. For example: Yeah… you met Madonna the day. / Yes… you met Madonna the other day.
3. Um… Is a sound that is often used when in doubt about what to say next. For example: I think he was… um… a little rude. / I think he was… um… a little rude.
4. Hey? It is used with a sign and question intonation to express that what was said was not understood. It is not the proper way to express yourself, but a spontaneous response. "Did you drop this?" "Hey?" "I asked if you dropped this." / "Did you drop this?" "Hey?" "I asked you if you dropped this?"

To express pain

1. Ouch! Example: Ouch! That hurts! / Ouch! That hurts!
2. Ow! It is used more to express emotional pain or disappointment. Example: Ow! He says he's not coming to the party. / Oh! Says he's not coming to the party.

Express surprise or a surprising situation

1. Bamm! It denotes the surprise that is about to happen. Example: We were talking calmly and bamm! she said she hated me. / We were talking quietly and bam! He told me he hated me.
2. Boom! Mimics the sound of an explosion. Example: I was driving home and boom! My tire broke. / She was driving home and boom! A tire was broken.
3. Oh! It is a spontaneous response to surprise. Example: Oh! I didn’t know you were here. / Oh! I did not know you were here.
4. Wow! Express surprise and admiration. Example. Wow! That’s a great car! / Wow! That is a cool car!

To express that a mistake has been made

1. Ooops! It is used the moment the mistake is made. Example: Ooops! I spilled the coffee. / Oh! I spilled the coffee.

Andrea is a language teacher, and in her instagram account She offers private lessons by video call so you can learn to speak English.