student asking question

What is the difference between "er" and "uh"? Which expression used more commonly? I'm asking this because I think I saw they use the word "er..." in the Harry Potter series.

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

"Er," "uh," and "um" all have essentially the same meaning. They are sounds made when someone is hesitating while speaking or thinking of what to say. "Er" is used more commonly in the UK, whereas "uh" and "um" are more commonly used elsewhere. However, there is no rule and you can use any of these three. Ex: A: What time is it? B: Uh, I'm not sure. Ex: A: What time will you get home today? B: Er, maybe around 7 PM?

Popular Q&As

04/22

Complete the expression with a quiz!