Filler words and interjections are sounds and words used during speech to pause, think, express emotion, or maintain conversation flow. They make speech sound natural and native-like.
Hesitation Sounds
음... / 으음... (Um...)
Thinking or hesitating:
- 음... 잘 모르겠어요 (Um... I'm not sure)
- 으음... 뭐라고 할까 (Ummm... how should I say)
Usage:
- Similar to English "um"
- Shows you're thinking
- Pausing to formulate thoughts
어... / 어어... (Uh...)
Uncertain or searching for words:
- 어... 그게... (Uh... that thing...)
- 어어... 뭐였지? (Uhh... what was it?)
Nuance:
- More uncertain than 음
- Struggling to remember
- Buying time
그... (Uh.../Well...)
Softening or hesitating:
- 그... 어떻게 말하지 (Well... how do I say this)
- 그게... (That thing... / Well...)
Usage:
- Leads into difficult topics
- Softens statements
- Shows hesitation
Agreement Interjections
네 (Yes/Right)
Agreeing or acknowledging:
- 네, 맞아요 (Yes, that's right)
- 네네 (Yes yes - more casual)
- 네! (Yes! - enthusiastic)
Variations:
- 넵 (yep - cute/casual)
- 넹 (yeah - cute)
응 / 어 (Yeah/Uh-huh)
Casual agreement:
- 응, 알아 (Yeah, I know)
- 어, 그래 (Uh-huh, right)
Usage:
- Very casual
- Among friends
- Acknowledging listening
그래(요) (Right/That's right)
Strong agreement:
- 그래, 맞아 (Right, correct)
- 그래요 (That's right - polite)
맞아(요) (Right/Correct)
Confirming accuracy:
- 맞아! (Right!)
- 맞아요 (That's correct)
- 맞는 말이에요 (That's a correct statement)
Disagreement Interjections
아니(요) (No)
Negating:
- 아니, 그게 아니야 (No, that's not it)
- 아니요 (No - polite)
Variations:
- 아뇨 (no - polite contraction)
- 아냐 (no - very casual)
아니지 (No.../That's not right)
Correcting gently:
- 아니지, 이게 맞아 (No, this is correct)
Thinking Out Loud
뭐라고 할까 (How should I say...)
Searching for words:
- 뭐라고 할까... 좀 복잡해요 (How should I say... it's complicated)
어떻게 말하지 (How do I say this)
Struggling to express:
- 어떻게 말하지... 음... (How do I say this... um...)
뭐더라 (What was it...)
Trying to remember:
- 뭐더라... 깜빡했네 (What was it... I forgot)
그게 뭐였지 (What was that)
Searching memory:
- 그게 뭐였지... 생각 안 나 (What was that... can't remember)
Surprise Interjections
헐 (OMG/What!)
Shock or disbelief:
- 헐! 진짜? (OMG! Really?)
- 헐... 대박 (Whoa... amazing)
와 / 우와 (Wow)
Amazement:
- 와! 예쁘다 (Wow! It's pretty)
- 우와, 대단해 (Wow, amazing)
어머 / 어머나 (Oh my)
Surprise (mainly female speakers):
- 어머! 정말? (Oh my! Really?)
- 어머나, 어떡해 (Oh my, what to do)
세상에 (Oh my goodness)
Strong surprise:
- 세상에! 이게 뭐야 (Oh my goodness! What is this)
진짜? (Really?)
Questioning surprise:
- 진짜? 말도 안 돼 (Really? Unbelievable)
- 진짜야? (Is it real?)
Disappointment/Frustration
에이 (Aw/Oh come on)
Disappointment:
- 에이, 아쉽다 (Aw, disappointing)
- 에이, 별로야 (Aw, it's not good)
아 (Ah/Oh)
Frustration or realization:
- 아, 그랬구나 (Ah, I see)
- 아, 짜증나 (Ah, annoying)
아이고 (Oh dear)
Frustration or sympathy:
- 아이고, 피곤해 (Oh dear, I'm tired)
- 아이고, 힘들겠다 (Oh dear, that must be hard)
아이씨 (Damn it - mild)
Frustration (mild curse):
- 아이씨, 왜 안 돼 (Damn it, why doesn't it work)
Note: Somewhat casual/crude
Calling Attention
저기(요) (Excuse me)
Getting attention politely:
- 저기요, 물어볼게 있어요 (Excuse me, I have a question)
- 저기... 그거... (Um... that thing...)
야 (Hey)
Casual attention getter:
- 야! 이리 와 (Hey! Come here)
- 야, 너 (Hey, you)
Note: Only among close friends/younger people
여보세요 (Hello - phone)
Phone greeting:
- 여보세요? 누구세요? (Hello? Who is this?)
Transition Words
그래서 (So/Therefore)
Continuing story:
- 그래서 어떻게 했어? (So what did you do?)
- 그래서 말인데 (So, speaking of which)
근데 (But/By the way)
Changing topic or contrasting:
- 근데 너 어때? (But how are you?)
- 근데 말이야 (But you know)
그러니까 (I mean/So)
Explaining or emphasizing:
- 그러니까, 이게 중요해 (I mean, this is important)
- 그러니까 말이야 (That's what I'm saying)
아무튼 (Anyway)
Moving on or summarizing:
- 아무튼, 그렇게 됐어 (Anyway, that's what happened)
- 아무튼간에 (Anyway)
Softeners
뭐 (Well/You know)
Softening or downplaying:
- 뭐, 괜찮아 (Well, it's okay)
- 뭐, 그럭저럭 (Well, so-so)
좀 (A bit/Kinda)
Softening requests or statements:
- 좀 도와줘 (Help me a bit)
- 좀 그래 (It's kinda like that)
약간 (Somewhat/Kinda)
Slight degree:
- 약간 그래 (It's somewhat like that)
- 약간 어려워 (It's kinda difficult)
Acknowledgment Sounds
아하 (Aha/I see)
Understanding:
- 아하, 그렇구나 (Aha, I see)
- 아하! 알겠어 (Aha! I get it)
오 (Oh)
Recognition or interest:
- 오, 그래? (Oh, really?)
- 오! 좋다 (Oh! Good)
흠 (Hmm)
Pondering:
- 흠... 그럴 수도 있겠네 (Hmm... that could be)
Empathy Sounds
어머 (Oh my - sympathy)
Sympathetic response:
- 어머, 힘들었겠다 (Oh my, that must have been hard)
이런 (Oh no)
Sympathy or concern:
- 이런, 안됐네 (Oh no, too bad)
에구 (Oh dear)
Sympathy (often by older speakers):
- 에구, 고생했어 (Oh dear, you worked hard)
Thinking Markers
있잖아(요) (You know)
Getting attention for what you'll say:
- 있잖아, 나 말이야 (You know, about me)
- 있잖아요, 그게... (You know, that thing...)
그게 말이야 (You see)
Explaining something:
- 그게 말이야, 복잡해 (You see, it's complicated)
Filler Combinations
Common Combinations
Multiple fillers together:
- 음... 그게... 뭐라고 할까 (Um... that... how should I say)
- 어... 있잖아... 그거 (Uh... you know... that thing)
- 그... 음... 약간... (Well... um... kinda...)
Regional Variations
Seoul Standard
Standard fillers:
- 음, 어, 그래
Dialect Variations
Regional differences:
- 그카이 (Gyeongsang - "you know")
- 쪼 (Jeolla - softener)
Age-Based Usage
Younger Speakers
Youth-oriented fillers:
- 헐, 대박 (Whoa, awesome)
- 좀, 약간 (Kinda, a bit)
Older Speakers
Traditional fillers:
- 에구, 어머나 (Oh dear, oh my)
- 아이고 (Oh dear)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: Overusing 음... in formal settings
Too casual for formal
✅ Correct: Minimize fillers in formal speech
More polished
❌ Incorrect: Using 야 with strangers/superiors
Too casual/rude
✅ Correct: 저기요 (Excuse me)
Proper formal attention getter
❌ Incorrect: Too many fillers affecting clarity
Hard to understand
✅ Correct: Use fillers naturally but sparingly
Clear communication
Summary Table
| Type | Filler | Meaning | Usage Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hesitation | 음... | Um... | Universal |
| Hesitation | 어... | Uh... | Universal |
| Agreement | 응/어 | Yeah | Casual |
| Agreement | 네 | Yes | Formal |
| Agreement | 그래 | Right | Universal |
| Disagreement | 아니 | No | Universal |
| Surprise | 헐 | OMG | Casual/Young |
| Surprise | 와 | Wow | Universal |
| Transition | 근데 | But | Casual |
| Transition | 그래서 | So | Universal |
| Softener | 뭐 | Well | Casual |
| Softener | 좀 | A bit | Universal |
| Attention | 저기요 | Excuse me | Formal |
| Attention | 야 | Hey | Casual |