Think 'Uh Huh' and 'Unh Unh' Sound Alike? Then You'll Be Saying 'Oops!'

Conversational Strategies
By Nina Weinstein

Uh huh shows the speaker you're listening; can mean "yes"; can be pronounced "um hmm" (mouth closed)

Unh unh means "no"; can be pronounced "mm mm" (mouth closed)

Uh, um give the speaker time to think. (Don't use these too much.)

Hmm means "I'm thinking" or "That's interesting." Can be pronounced "Mmm." ("Mmm" can also mean "I like it" -- food, an idea, etc.)

Uh oh means "Oh no, there's trouble."

You know establishes understanding between the speaker and listener ("The restaurant is on the street; you know, the one just before you get to the mall.") It also gives the speaker time to think.

Huh? is informal for "what?" Can be pronounced "hmm?"

Hey is a casual way to draw attention to what you're saying. Often begins a sentence.

In other words can begin a sentence. Can be used to check that the listener understood the speaker (very useful for second language learners)

Oops or whoops is used when someone makes a mistake or drops something.

Let's see means "let me think" or "I'm thinking." Often begins a sentence.

Tsk tsk tsk expresses disapproval

Aha means "I've discovered something." Usually said with a lot of emphasis.