What is an Interjection?

By definition, an interjection is a word unit in English used to express emotions and strong feelings.Interjections can be used to express hesitation or protest, and it often ends with an exclamation point.

Interjection examples:

  • “Oops! I’m sorry.”
  • “Bingo! I found it.”
  • “Oh, How cute she is!”
  • “Well! I think Steve got married!”
  • “Meh! I don’t like that movie.”
  • “Yahoo! We made it!”

How many Interjections in English?

The following table is a list of interjections that show emotions along with examples for each:

Type of InterjectionsEXAMPLES
Doubt
Hmm“Humm…She is more clever than all of us.”
Um“Um, I don’t know if I like the color.”
Err“New Delhi is the capital of..err… India!”
Pity/Good grief
Alas“Alas, my funds have some limitations.”
Dear“Oh dear, I’ve broken the light.”
Realization
Ah“Ah, what a lovely baby!”
Aha“Aha, it was a fox.”
Disapproval
Tut tut“Tut tut, Jack, you disappoint me, you really do.”
Tsk tsk“So you were out wasting time again last night? Tsk tsk!”
Irritation
Hmph“Don’t blame me. It is your fault. Hmph!”
Huh“Try to understand.” “Huh! What is there to understand?”
Oy“Oy, my legs hurt!”
Hey“Hey! Look out!”
Panic
Help“Help! I’m going to fall.”
Ah“Ah! I have hurt my toe.”
Uh-oh“Uh-oh, I think the bear is inside the house!”
Dismay
Oh no“Oh no! Did I leave my keys in the car?”
Oh“Oh, I am not going to die, am I?”
Oops“Oops! I almost spilled the coffee!”
Disappointment
Aw“Aw it’s a shame. I can’t make it”.
Embarrassment
Ahem“Ahem, can I make a suggestion?”
Er“I don’t think..er..wait..let me call my boss.”
Pain
Ouch“Ouch! That really hurts!”
Oww“Oww, I hit my thumb!”
Oh“Oh! I’ve got a toothache.”
Disgust
Yuck“Yuck! This peanut butter is disgusting.”
Ugh“That guy is so stupid. Ugh, I can’t stand his foolishness.”
Er“Er, this apple is rotten.”
Surprise
Oh“Oh! What a nice view.”
Eek“Eek! It moved!”
Yikes“Yikes, my mother’s home!”
Ooh“Ooh, what a lovely dress!”
Wow“Wow! I never knew that.”
Eh“So that was all what she said, eh?”
Well“Well, so she got a job?”
Really“She’s resigned.” “Really?”
Elation
Hurray“We’ve done it! Hurrah!”
Yippee“Yippee! We won, let’s have a part!”
Ha“Ha! So I’m right after all.”
Whoopee“Whoopee! It’s the holidays!”
Woo hoo“Woo hoo! It’s the holidays.”
Pleasure
Hooray“Hooray! Our team won!”
Yeah“Yeah, I’d love some orange juice.”
Mmm“Mm, this ice cream is delicious.”
Relief
Phew“I didn’t do my homework, but the teacher didn’t check. Phew!”
Whew“Whew! I can’t believe we actually finished it all.”
Whoa“Whoa, take it easy, calm down!”
Boredom
Blah“Blah! Why can’t I get this computer to work?”
Ho-hum“Look at all this paperwork. Ho-hum.”