English Explanatory Dictionary

ahem

English dictionary entry

Meanings

intj
  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 subtle sarcasm, polite lying, or euphemism.
  6. Indicates an inappropriate pun.
verb
  1. To cough or clear one's throat so as to draw attention.

Pronunciation

/əˈhɛm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ahem.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ahem2.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ahem3.wav

Word forms

ahem ehem ahems ahemming ahemmed

Etymology

Onomatopoeic.

Synonyms

hey tut tut

Translations

Czech: ehm Finnish: kröhöm Greek: γκουχ Greek: γκούχου Japanese: ゴホン Japanese: コホン Japanese: げほげほ Tagalog: ehem Tagalog: tikhim Vietnamese: e hèm
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