ähm
um
Used as a filler word when briefly hesitating, thinking, or feeling unsure while speaking.
EXAMPLE
Ähm, ich weiß leider nicht, wie die Lösung lautet.
Um, unfortunately, I don't know what the solution is.
ähm
um
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Meanings
Usage tips
Sentence position
'Ähm' (um) can appear at the beginning of an utterance or mark a short pause in the middle of a sentence. In written dialogue, it is usually separated from the rest of the sentence by commas.
EXAMPLE
Ähm, könnten Sie die Frage bitte noch einmal wiederholen?
Um, could you please repeat the question?
Ich wollte, ähm, noch etwas Wichtiges sagen.
I wanted to, um, say something else important.
Conversation signal
When speaking, 'Ähm' (um) briefly keeps the flow of speech going while you plan your next thought. Repeating it often, however, can make you sound uncertain or very hesitant.
EXAMPLE
Ähm, lassen Sie mich kurz überlegen.
Um, let me think for a moment.
Ähm, ähm, ich weiß gerade nicht weiter.
Um, um, I don't know what to do next.
Spoken language
'Ähm' (um) is mainly used in spontaneous spoken language and is especially common in conversations, interviews, and oral presentations. In factual written texts, it is normally used only when spoken language is being represented.
EXAMPLE
„Ähm, ich bin mir bei diesem Punkt noch nicht ganz sicher“, erklärte die Studentin.
“Um, I'm still not completely sure about this point,” the student explained.
Im Interview sagte er: „Ähm, darüber muss ich erst nachdenken.“
In the interview, he said, “Um, I need to think about that first.”
In real life
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