[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
1. Well<\/strong><\/h2>\n“Well” can be used in a few different ways. You can use it to show that you’re thinking”<\/p>\n
\u201cWell<\/strong>, I guess $20 is a good price for a pair of jeans.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nYou can also use it to put a pause in a sentence:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe apples and cinnamon go together like, well<\/strong>, apples and cinnamon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nYou can even use the word to stall (delay):<\/p>\n
\u201cWell<\/strong>… fine, you can borrow my car.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n2. Um \/ Er \/ Uh<\/h2>\n
“Um,” “er”\u00a0and\u00a0“uh” are mostly used for hesitation, such as\u00a0when you don\u2019t know the answer or don\u2019t want to answer.<\/p>\n
\u201cUm<\/strong>, er<\/strong>, I uh<\/strong> thought the project was due tomorrow, not today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nYou can use any of the words at any time\u2014they don’t all have to go together.<\/p>\n
“Umm<\/strong>… I like the yellow dress better!”<\/em><\/p>\n3. Hmm<\/h2>\n
“Hmm” is a thoughtful sound, and it shows that you\u2019re thinking or trying to decide something.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm<\/strong>, I like the red bag but I think I\u2019ll buy the black one instead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n4. Like<\/h2>\n
“Like” is sometimes used to mean that something is not exact:<\/p>\n
\u201cMy neighbor has like<\/strong> ten dogs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nIn the above example, the neighbor probably doesn’t have exactly ten dogs. Rather, the neighbor has a lot of dogs.<\/p>\n
Usually, though, the word is used when you need a moment to figure out the next word to use.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy friend was like<\/strong>, completely ready to like<\/strong> kick me out of the car if I didn\u2019t stop using the word ‘like’<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nKeep in mind that the word “like” as a filler is seen as a negative thing. The word is often\u00a0overused\u00a0by young females, and can make you sound like you’re not sure what you\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n
5. Actually<\/h2>\n
“Actually” is an adverb\u2014a word that describes an action. Many English adverbs<\/a> (though not all of them) have an “-ly” at the end of the word, which makes it easier to recognize them.<\/p>\nSome adverbs can be used as fillers to change the strength of a statement.<\/p>\n
For example, the word “actually” is used to point out something you think is true, when others might not agree:<\/p>\n
\u201cActually<\/strong>, pugs<\/a>\u00a0are really cute!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n6. Basically<\/h2>\n
“Basically” is also an adverb. It is used when you’re summarizing something, like a movie you saw:<\/p>\n
“Basically<\/strong>, the last Batman movie was really exciting!”<\/em><\/p>\n7. Seriously<\/h2>\n
The adverb “seriously” is used to show how strongly you take the statement.<\/p>\n
“Wow… That roller coaster was seriously<\/strong> scary!”<\/em><\/p>\n8. Literally<\/h2>\n
“Literally” is another adverb. It really means “something that is true,” but many times in conversation it’s used with a different meaning: to express strong feelings.<\/p>\n
These strong feelings aren’t always literal, though. For example:<\/p>\n
“That’s so funny! I’m literally<\/strong> dying of laughter right now!”<\/em><\/p>\n9. Totally<\/h2>\n
Our next adverb is “totally,” which means “completely.” It is used to show that you feel strongly about something or that something is important.<\/p>\n
“You totally<\/strong> didn’t see me, even though I was right in front of you.”<\/em><\/p>\n10. Clearly<\/h2>\n
The adverb “clearly” means the same as “obviously.” As a filler word, it is used to state something that is very obviously true.<\/p>\n
“Clearly<\/strong> you don’t know what you’re talking about.”<\/em><\/p>\n11. You see<\/h2>\n
“You see” is used to share a fact that you assume the listener doesn’t know, like:<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to try the app, but you see<\/strong>, I ran out of space on my phone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n12. You know<\/h2>\n
“You know” is used to share something that you assume the listener already knows.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe stayed at that hotel, you know<\/strong>, the one down the street from Times Square.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nIt can also be used instead of an explanation, in cases where we feel the listener just understands what we mean.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the elevator went down, I got that weird feeling in my ears, you know?<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n13. I mean<\/h2>\n
“I mean” is used to clarify or emphasize how you feel about something:<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean<\/strong>, he\u2019s a great guy, I\u2019m just not sure if he\u2019s a good doctor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nIt\u2019s also used to make corrections when you misspeak:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe duck and the tiger were awesome but scary. I mean<\/strong>, the tiger was scary, not the duck.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n“The cave is two thousand\u2014I mean<\/strong>\u2014twenty thousand years old!”<\/em><\/p>\n14. You know what I mean?<\/h2>\n
“You know what I mean?” is used to make sure the listener is following what you\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really like that girl, you know what I mean?<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n15. At the end of the day<\/h2>\n
“At the end of the day” is a phrase that means \u201cin the end\u201d or \u201cin conclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of the day<\/strong>, we\u2019re all just humans, and we all make mistakes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n16. Believe me<\/h2>\n
“Believe me” is a way of asking your listener to trust what you\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve me<\/strong>, I didn\u2019t want this tiny house, but it was the only one I could afford.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nIt\u2019s also used to emphasize what you\u2019re about to say, as in:<\/p>\n
\u201cBelieve me<\/strong>, this is the cheapest, tiniest house ever!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n17. I guess \/ I suppose<\/h2>\n
“I guess” and “I suppose” are used to show that you\u2019re hesitant, or not really sure about what you\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going to eat dinner at home, but I guess<\/strong> I can go eat at a restaurant instead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n“I guess” is used more often in speech, but\u00a0“I suppose”\u00a0can sound classier (a bit smarter).<\/p>\n
18. Or something<\/h2>\n
“Or something” is a sentence ending that means you\u2019re not being exact.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe cake uses two sticks of butter and ten eggs, or something<\/strong> like that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n19. Okay \/ So<\/h2>\n
“Okay” and “so” are usually used to start sentences, and can be a sign that a new topic is starting:<\/p>\n
\u201cSo<\/strong> what are you doing next weekend?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\nThey can also be used to introduce a summary:<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay<\/strong>, so<\/strong> we\u2019re going to need to buy supplies for our trip this weekend.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n20. Right \/ Mhm<\/a> \/ Uh huh<\/h2>\n“Right” and “uh huh” are affirmative responses\u2014they both mean “yes.”<\/p>\n
“Right<\/strong>, so let\u2019s prepare a list of all the things we\u2019ll need.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Mhm<\/strong>\u2014I heard you.”<\/em><\/p>\n“Uh huh<\/strong>, that’s exactly what he told me too.”<\/em><\/p>\nWhen Are Filler Words Used in English?<\/h2>\n
You only need to use filler words when you’re speaking out loud.<\/strong> Generally, you won’t use fillers when you’re writing. When you’re speaking out loud, though, you might need some extra time to figure out what to say. That’s when you can use filler words.<\/p>\nSometimes people use certain filler words (“like,” “literally” or “believe me”) when they’re writing online in website comments, chats or social media.<\/strong> This is fine too, since conversations online are very similar to spoken conversations.<\/p>\nFiller words are used for a number of reasons:<\/p>\n
\n- To show that you’re thinking.<\/strong> Use filler words when you need to think about your answer or statement.\n
For example: “I have basically<\/em>\u2026 ten more years of college.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n- To make a statement less harsh.<\/strong> When your friend has some broccoli stuck between his teeth, you could just tell him, \u201cYou have something in your teeth,\u201d but that might make him embarrassed.\n
It might be nicer to say something more like: “Well<\/em>, you have, um<\/em>, you have a little something in your teeth.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n- To make your statement weaker or stronger.<\/strong> While filler words don’t add anything to sentences, they can be used to change the sentence tone\u2014<\/em>the\u00a0attitude of the sentence. See\u00a0how different these three statements sound:\n
“I think pugs are cute” is just a regular statement.
\n“Actually<\/em>, I think pugs are cute” shows contrast\u2014that someone else doesn’t agree.
\n“At the end of the day<\/em>, I think pugs are cute” is something you might say as a conclusion to a discussion about pugs and their ugly (or cute!) wrinkles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n- To stall for time.<\/strong> To stall for time means to do something to try and gain more time. Filler words are an excellent way to stall when you don’t know how to answer a question, or when you don’t want to.\n
For example, if your teacher asks you “Where\u2019s your homework?” your response might sound a bit like this: “Uhh. Umm. Well, you see…<\/em> My dog ate it.”<\/li>\n- To include the listener\u00a0in the conversation without ending your sentence.<\/strong> A conversation takes at least two people. Some filler words and phrases can include the other person in the conversation. It’s a bit like reaching out to them as you’re speaking to keep their attention.\n
For example: “It was a really big bear, you know<\/em>?”<\/p>\nThis sentence includes the listener without ending your speaking turn. Your listener might nod in agreement, allowing you to continue telling him about the bear you saw.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Use Filler Words in Moderation<\/h2>\n
Like with anything else, you can use filler words too much.<\/strong><\/p>\nOverusing<\/em> filler words (using too many, too often) can make it difficult to follow your sentences. They can also make you sound unprofessional\u2014for example, don’t use a lot of filler words during job interviews or presentations.<\/p>\nBut even native English speakers use fillers quite often. Learning to use them correctly<\/strong> will help you speak more fluently and confidently, and make you sound more like an advanced English learner<\/a>.<\/p>\nTo get a deeper sense of how to use filler words, you should watch English videos to see how native speakers use them.<\/strong> In general, videos made for English speakers are helpful in showing “real” speech. You also get to see and hear how filler words work in different sentences and different situations.<\/p>\nMovies and TV shows<\/a> are great examples of videos you can watch. If you have any favorite English shows, watch them again and this time, really pay attention to how the characters talk. See how many filler words you can hear!<\/p>\nFluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n<\/p> \r\n
You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\nP.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n ![\"FluentU](\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/4\/SimpleText.jpg\")
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You can also use it to put a pause in a sentence:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe apples and cinnamon go together like, well<\/strong>, apples and cinnamon.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You can even use the word to stall (delay):<\/p>\n \u201cWell<\/strong>… fine, you can borrow my car.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “Um,” “er”\u00a0and\u00a0“uh” are mostly used for hesitation, such as\u00a0when you don\u2019t know the answer or don\u2019t want to answer.<\/p>\n \u201cUm<\/strong>, er<\/strong>, I uh<\/strong> thought the project was due tomorrow, not today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You can use any of the words at any time\u2014they don’t all have to go together.<\/p>\n “Umm<\/strong>… I like the yellow dress better!”<\/em><\/p>\n “Hmm” is a thoughtful sound, and it shows that you\u2019re thinking or trying to decide something.<\/p>\n \u201cHmm<\/strong>, I like the red bag but I think I\u2019ll buy the black one instead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “Like” is sometimes used to mean that something is not exact:<\/p>\n \u201cMy neighbor has like<\/strong> ten dogs.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n In the above example, the neighbor probably doesn’t have exactly ten dogs. Rather, the neighbor has a lot of dogs.<\/p>\n Usually, though, the word is used when you need a moment to figure out the next word to use.<\/p>\n \u201cMy friend was like<\/strong>, completely ready to like<\/strong> kick me out of the car if I didn\u2019t stop using the word ‘like’<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Keep in mind that the word “like” as a filler is seen as a negative thing. The word is often\u00a0overused\u00a0by young females, and can make you sound like you’re not sure what you\u2019re talking about.<\/p>\n “Actually” is an adverb\u2014a word that describes an action. Many English adverbs<\/a> (though not all of them) have an “-ly” at the end of the word, which makes it easier to recognize them.<\/p>\n Some adverbs can be used as fillers to change the strength of a statement.<\/p>\n For example, the word “actually” is used to point out something you think is true, when others might not agree:<\/p>\n \u201cActually<\/strong>, pugs<\/a>\u00a0are really cute!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “Basically” is also an adverb. It is used when you’re summarizing something, like a movie you saw:<\/p>\n “Basically<\/strong>, the last Batman movie was really exciting!”<\/em><\/p>\n The adverb “seriously” is used to show how strongly you take the statement.<\/p>\n “Wow… That roller coaster was seriously<\/strong> scary!”<\/em><\/p>\n “Literally” is another adverb. It really means “something that is true,” but many times in conversation it’s used with a different meaning: to express strong feelings.<\/p>\n These strong feelings aren’t always literal, though. For example:<\/p>\n “That’s so funny! I’m literally<\/strong> dying of laughter right now!”<\/em><\/p>\n Our next adverb is “totally,” which means “completely.” It is used to show that you feel strongly about something or that something is important.<\/p>\n “You totally<\/strong> didn’t see me, even though I was right in front of you.”<\/em><\/p>\n The adverb “clearly” means the same as “obviously.” As a filler word, it is used to state something that is very obviously true.<\/p>\n “Clearly<\/strong> you don’t know what you’re talking about.”<\/em><\/p>\n “You see” is used to share a fact that you assume the listener doesn’t know, like:<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to try the app, but you see<\/strong>, I ran out of space on my phone.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “You know” is used to share something that you assume the listener already knows.<\/p>\n \u201cWe stayed at that hotel, you know<\/strong>, the one down the street from Times Square.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It can also be used instead of an explanation, in cases where we feel the listener just understands what we mean.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the elevator went down, I got that weird feeling in my ears, you know?<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “I mean” is used to clarify or emphasize how you feel about something:<\/p>\n \u201cI mean<\/strong>, he\u2019s a great guy, I\u2019m just not sure if he\u2019s a good doctor.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s also used to make corrections when you misspeak:<\/p>\n \u201cThe duck and the tiger were awesome but scary. I mean<\/strong>, the tiger was scary, not the duck.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “The cave is two thousand\u2014I mean<\/strong>\u2014twenty thousand years old!”<\/em><\/p>\n “You know what I mean?” is used to make sure the listener is following what you\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n \u201cI really like that girl, you know what I mean?<\/strong>\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “At the end of the day” is a phrase that means \u201cin the end\u201d or \u201cin conclusion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt the end of the day<\/strong>, we\u2019re all just humans, and we all make mistakes.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “Believe me” is a way of asking your listener to trust what you\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n \u201cBelieve me<\/strong>, I didn\u2019t want this tiny house, but it was the only one I could afford.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s also used to emphasize what you\u2019re about to say, as in:<\/p>\n \u201cBelieve me<\/strong>, this is the cheapest, tiniest house ever!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “I guess” and “I suppose” are used to show that you\u2019re hesitant, or not really sure about what you\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to eat dinner at home, but I guess<\/strong> I can go eat at a restaurant instead.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “I guess” is used more often in speech, but\u00a0“I suppose”\u00a0can sound classier (a bit smarter).<\/p>\n “Or something” is a sentence ending that means you\u2019re not being exact.<\/p>\n \u201cThe cake uses two sticks of butter and ten eggs, or something<\/strong> like that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “Okay” and “so” are usually used to start sentences, and can be a sign that a new topic is starting:<\/p>\n \u201cSo<\/strong> what are you doing next weekend?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n They can also be used to introduce a summary:<\/p>\n \u201cOkay<\/strong>, so<\/strong> we\u2019re going to need to buy supplies for our trip this weekend.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n “Right” and “uh huh” are affirmative responses\u2014they both mean “yes.”<\/p>\n “Right<\/strong>, so let\u2019s prepare a list of all the things we\u2019ll need.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Mhm<\/strong>\u2014I heard you.”<\/em><\/p>\n “Uh huh<\/strong>, that’s exactly what he told me too.”<\/em><\/p>\n You only need to use filler words when you’re speaking out loud.<\/strong> Generally, you won’t use fillers when you’re writing. When you’re speaking out loud, though, you might need some extra time to figure out what to say. That’s when you can use filler words.<\/p>\n Sometimes people use certain filler words (“like,” “literally” or “believe me”) when they’re writing online in website comments, chats or social media.<\/strong> This is fine too, since conversations online are very similar to spoken conversations.<\/p>\n Filler words are used for a number of reasons:<\/p>\n For example: “I have basically<\/em>\u2026 ten more years of college.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n It might be nicer to say something more like: “Well<\/em>, you have, um<\/em>, you have a little something in your teeth.”<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n “I think pugs are cute” is just a regular statement. For example, if your teacher asks you “Where\u2019s your homework?” your response might sound a bit like this: “Uhh. Umm. Well, you see…<\/em> My dog ate it.”<\/li>\n For example: “It was a really big bear, you know<\/em>?”<\/p>\n This sentence includes the listener without ending your speaking turn. Your listener might nod in agreement, allowing you to continue telling him about the bear you saw.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Like with anything else, you can use filler words too much.<\/strong><\/p>\n Overusing<\/em> filler words (using too many, too often) can make it difficult to follow your sentences. They can also make you sound unprofessional\u2014for example, don’t use a lot of filler words during job interviews or presentations.<\/p>\n But even native English speakers use fillers quite often. Learning to use them correctly<\/strong> will help you speak more fluently and confidently, and make you sound more like an advanced English learner<\/a>.<\/p>\n To get a deeper sense of how to use filler words, you should watch English videos to see how native speakers use them.<\/strong> In general, videos made for English speakers are helpful in showing “real” speech. You also get to see and hear how filler words work in different sentences and different situations.<\/p>\n Movies and TV shows<\/a> are great examples of videos you can watch. If you have any favorite English shows, watch them again and this time, really pay attention to how the characters talk. See how many filler words you can hear!<\/p>\n FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n <\/p> \r\n You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n 2. Um \/ Er \/ Uh<\/h2>\n
3. Hmm<\/h2>\n
4. Like<\/h2>\n
5. Actually<\/h2>\n
6. Basically<\/h2>\n
7. Seriously<\/h2>\n
8. Literally<\/h2>\n
9. Totally<\/h2>\n
10. Clearly<\/h2>\n
11. You see<\/h2>\n
12. You know<\/h2>\n
13. I mean<\/h2>\n
14. You know what I mean?<\/h2>\n
15. At the end of the day<\/h2>\n
16. Believe me<\/h2>\n
17. I guess \/ I suppose<\/h2>\n
18. Or something<\/h2>\n
19. Okay \/ So<\/h2>\n
20. Right \/ Mhm<\/a> \/ Uh huh<\/h2>\n
When Are Filler Words Used in English?<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n“Actually<\/em>, I think pugs are cute” shows contrast\u2014that someone else doesn’t agree.
\n“At the end of the day<\/em>, I think pugs are cute” is something you might say as a conclusion to a discussion about pugs and their ugly (or cute!) wrinkles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Use Filler Words in Moderation<\/h2>\n
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