Table Of Contents

What is an Interjection?
Interjection Definition
Examples of Interjections
Types of Interjections
Rules of Using Interjections
Basic Punctuation Rules for Interjections
List of Common Interjections
Commonly Used Interjections with Examples
Explore Our Resources

What is an Interjection?

An interjection is a word or phrase used to show sudden feelings or emotions, such as surprise, joy, or sadness. Interjections are a part of speech, but they are not grammatically linked to other parts of a sentence. They are often used in everyday speech and informal writing. There are no fixed rules about where interjections appear in a sentence, though they are commonly placed at the beginning.

Interjection Definition

Different dictionaries define interjections in various ways:
Oxford Learner’s Dictionary: A short sound, word, or phrase spoken suddenly to express an emotion.
Cambridge Dictionary: A word used to show a short sudden expression of emotion.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary: A word or phrase used in exclamation.
Macmillan Dictionary: A word or phrase expressing strong emotion like surprise or anger.
Collins Dictionary: A word or expression used to show a strong feeling such as surprise, pain, or shock.

Examples of Interjections

Ah, I see what you mean.
Oh no, I missed the bus.
Hmm, let me think about it.
Yes! We completed the task.
Oops, I dropped the glass.
Oh, I didn’t know that.
Aha, now I understand.

Types of Interjections

Interjections are words or phrases used to express strong emotions or sudden feelings. They are often used in informal communication and are usually followed by an exclamation mark (!), but not always. Here are the types of interjections based on the emotions or situations they convey:

Primary Interjection

Words that only function as interjections.
Examples:
Wow! You arrived early.
Alas! The train has left.

Secondary Interjection

Words from other parts of speech (like nouns or verbs) used as interjections.
Examples:
Indeed, I heard the news.
Goodness! That was unexpected.

Mild Interjection

Words used to express less intense feelings.
Examples:
Oh, I didn’t realize you were here.
Well, let’s continue the discussion.

Strong Interjection

Words expressing strong emotions or reactions.
Examples:
Yes! We won the game.
Hurray! The plan worked.

Volitive Interjection

Used to give a command or make a request.
Examples:
Shh! The baby is sleeping.
Ahem, can I get your attention?

Emotive Interjection

Used to show emotions or feelings in response to something.
Examples:
Ugh! The floor is sticky.
Ouch! That pinched.

Cognitive Interjection

Used to show thought or realization.
Examples:
Hmm, I need more time to decide.
Gosh, I didn’t expect that.

Discourse Marker Interjection

Used to manage the flow of conversation.
Examples:
Anyway, let’s move on to the next point.
By the way, did you call him?

Fillers

Used to fill gaps in conversation or indicate hesitation.
Examples:
Um, what’s your opinion on this?
Er, I need a moment to think.

Parenthetical Interjection

Inserted in the middle of a sentence to provide additional comments.
Examples:
I, well, don’t know how to answer.
He is, you know, not available right now.

Speak English Fluently in 90 Days!

Unlock your potential with Aditya Sir’s transformative English-speaking course. Gain confidence, fluency, and the skills you need to excel. Start your journey today!

Join Now

Rules of Using Interjections

Though interjections are informal and often appear in casual communication, the following guidelines can help in their usage:

Placement in Relation to a Statement

Interjections can appear before or after a sentence that explains the situation.
Examples:
Wow! That place is so peaceful.
What? You forgot your keys again!

Interjections for Affirmation or Denial

Some interjections express agreement or disagreement (yes or no).
Examples:
Yes! We managed to complete it on time.
Nope, that’s not the way to solve it.

Breaking Up Conversations or Thoughts

Interjections can be used to pause or hold attention in a discussion.
Examples:
Um, I think I left my phone at home.
The event was, well, not as exciting as expected.

Usage in Informal Contexts

Interjections are more suited for casual writing or speech. It’s common to use them in daily conversations or informal communication.

Basic Punctuation Rules for Interjections

Interjections are short, standalone words or phrases that express strong emotions or reactions. Here are the basic punctuation rules for using interjections effectively:

Stand-alone Interjection

When an interjection forms a sentence by itself, end it with a period, exclamation mark, or question mark.
Examples: Oh! That’s amazing. Hmm. Let me think.

Interjection at the Start of a Sentence

Follow the interjection with a comma or hyphen.
Examples: Well, let’s begin. Ah—here’s the answer.

Interjection Within a Sentence

Surround it with commas, brackets, or dashes.
Examples: The plan, um, wasn’t well thought out. The answer (oh!) surprised everyone.

Interjection at the End of a Sentence

Precede it with a comma or dash.
Examples: It was a tiring day, phew. He left in a hurry—oops!

List of Common Interjections

Here’s a categorized list of interjections based on their starting letters:

Letter	Interjections
A	A, Aha, Ahem, Ahh, Ahoy, Alas, Arg, Aw
B	Bam, Bingo, Blah, Boo, Bravo, Brrr
C	Cheers, Congratulations
D	Dang, Dart, Darn, Duh
E	Eek, Eh, Encore, Eureka
F	Fiddlesticks
G	Gadzooks, Gee, Gee whiz, Golly, Goodbye, Goodness, Good grief, Gosh
H	Ha-ha, Hello, Hey, Hmm, Holy buckets, Holy cow, Holy smokes, Huh, Humph, Hurray
O	Oh, Oh dear, Oh my, Oh well, Oops, Ouch, Ow
P	Phew, Phooey, Pooh, Pow
R	Rats
S	Shh, Shoo
T	Thanks, There, Tut-tut
U	Uh-huh, Uh-oh, Ugh
W	Wahoo, Well, Whoa, Whoops, Wow
Y	Yeah, Yes, Yikes, Yippee, Yo, Yuck

Commonly Used Interjections with Examples

Ugh

Expression: Disgust or frustration.
Example: Ugh! I can’t stand the smell of spoiled milk.

Wow

Expression: Amazement or admiration.
Example: Wow, that’s an incredible view of the mountains!

Nice

Expression: Approval or satisfaction.
Example: A quiet evening with a good book—nice!

Woohoo

Expression: Excitement or celebration.
Example: Woohoo! I finally finished my project on time.

Cool

Expression: Acceptance or appreciation.
Example: Cool! I didn’t know you could play the guitar.

Win

Expression: A sense of accomplishment.
Example: Tickets to the concert for free? Win!

Huh

Expression: Surprise or curiosity.
Example: Huh! I didn’t realize you’d already solved the puzzle.

Noo

Expression: Disappointment or disbelief.
Example: Noo, I was hoping it wouldn’t rain today.

So

Expression: Continuation or emphasis.
Example: So…what do you think about the new plan?

Ouch

Expression: Pain or regret.
Example: Ouch! I shouldn’t have touched that hot pan.

Yup

Expression: Agreement or affirmation.
Example: Yup, I’ll send the documents by tonight.

Oh my

Expression: Surprise or shock.
Example: Oh my! Did you see how fast that car was going?

Sweet

Expression: Enthusiasm or approval.
Example: Sweet! We got tickets to the front row!

Awesome

Expression: Excitement or approval.
Example: Awesome! Let’s plan a trip next weekend.

Hmm

Expression: Thinking or hesitation.
Example: Hmm, I’m not sure if I should take this job offer.

Yeah

Expression: Agreement or support.
Example: Yeah! That’s the right solution to the problem.

Uh oh

Expression: Concern or trouble.
Example: Uh oh, I think I’ve locked my keys in the car.

Oh man

Expression: Disappointment or frustration.
Example: Oh man, I missed the train by just a minute.

Ew

Expression: Disgust.
Example: Ew! Are you really going to eat that off the floor?

Ahh

Expression: Realization or relief.
Example: Ahh, now I understand what you were trying to explain.

Sure

Expression: Agreement or consent.
Example: Sure, I’ll help you with the decorations.

Hey

Expression: Greeting or getting attention.
Example: Hey! How have you been? It’s been ages.

Um

Expression: Hesitation or uncertainty.
Example: Um—I’m not sure if this is the right address.

Ha

Expression: Laughter or disbelief.
Example: Ha! That’s exactly what I expected.

Oh dear

Expression: Concern or worry.
Example: Oh dear, I think I left my wallet at home.

Yikes

Expression: Fear or surprise.
Example: Yikes! That spider is huge!

Oops

Expression: Mistake or accident.
Example: Oops, I spilled my coffee on the report.

Like

Expression: Indicating approximation or uncertainty.
Example: I think it’s like 10 or 15 minutes away from here.

Jeez

Expression: Exasperation or annoyance.
Example: Jeez, could this queue move any slower?

Ahem

Expression: Clearing one’s throat to get attention.
Example: Ahem! Are you going to introduce me to your friend?