Interjections are exclamations that can express different emotions. They are usually one or two words that stand alone from other statements. Adding interjections to your vocabulary will make you sound like a native English speaker.
Let's look at these six common interjections in American English and get you started sounding like a native English speaker today.
1. Oops! 🙈
Say ‘oops!’ to express that you realize you have made a mistake or done something wrong.
For example, “Oops! I scheduled our meeting for the wrong time! Let me fix that in the calendar...”
2. Hmm 😀💭
Use ‘hmm’ to indicate that you are pensive or thinking about your reply.
For instance, “Hmm...that’s an interesting question, let me do some research and get back to you!”
3. Ouch 😨
Say ‘ouch’ to express acknowledgment or sympathy for someone else’s pain (physical or emotional).
Like, “Ouch! That cut looks like it really hurts!”, or “You got an F (bad grade) on that English test? Ouch!”
4. Wow 😮
Wow expresses surprise or astonishment.
For example, “Wow, I didn’t know you could speak such great English!”
5. Oh no 😕
Oh no can express disappointment, alarm, or concern.
For instance, “Oh no! I can’t make it to your birthday party!”, or “Oh no! Did you forget to send the invitations??”
6. Yay! 😃
Yay expresses happiness or cause for celebration.
Like, “Yay! You’re going to sound like a native English speaker after reading this blog!”
Want to sound even more like an American English native? 😱 And learn from an American teacher? 🇺🇸
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Noelle Ruta is an English and German teacher and coordinator for Amidon Studios. She previously taught German, English, French, and Italian at universities in the U.S. She holds a BA in German from Montclair State University. Originally from Long Island, New York, Noelle now lives in Dallas, Texas with her boyfriend and two cats.