First published 1899; not fully revised More entries for huh

huhinterjection

Etymology
Meaning & use
Pronunciation
Frequency
Compounds & derived words

Quotations

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Factsheet

What does the interjection huh mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the interjection huh. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitionusageand quotation evidence.

Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

See meaning & use

How common is the interjection huh?

About 2occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750	0.1
1760	0.09
1770	0.089
1780	0.077
1790	0.073
1800	0.057
1810	0.042
1820	0.029
1830	0.023
1840	0.021
1850	0.022
1860	0.021
1870	0.021
1880	0.024
1890	0.044
1900	0.087
1910	0.17
1920	0.28
1930	0.42
1940	0.54
1950	0.58
1960	0.66
1970	0.98
1980	1.6
1990	2.3
2000	2.8
2010	3.0

See frequency

What is the etymology of the interjection huh?

huh is an imitative or expressive formation.

See etymology

What is the earliest known use of the interjection huh?

Earliest known use

early 1600s

The earliest known use of the interjection huh is in the early 1600s.

OED's earliest evidence for huh is from 1608in the writing of Thomas Middletonplaywright.

See meaning & use

How is the interjection huh pronounced?

British English

/hʌ/

U.S. English

/hə/

huh

See pronunciation

Nearby entries

hugmateen.1699–1704
hug-me-tightn.1860–
Hugon.1950–
Hugoesqueadj.1893–
hugsomeadj.1893–
Huguenotn. & adj.1565–
Huguenoticadj.1897–
Huguenotismn.1611–
hugyadj.c1420–1728
huhn.1826–
huhint.1608–
hühnerkobeliten.1950–
huhun.1848–
huh-uhint.1948–
huin.1858–
huian.1845–
Huicholn. & adj.1900–
huikv.1570–1636
huingn.a1250–
huipiln.1875–
huisherv.1606

Browse more nearby entries

Etymology

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Meaning & use

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Pronunciation

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Compounds & derived words

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Entry history for huhint.

huhint. was first published in 1899; not fully revised.

huhint. was last modified in September 2024.

The following sections of this entry have been updated:

Etymology (2023)

Revision of the OED is a long-term projectand oed.com is a living textupdated every three months. Entries which have not been fully revised may include partial interim updatesincluding:

corrections and revisions to definitionsespecially to improve clarityaccuracyor intelligibility;
new or updated quotation evidenceand reverified or redated bibliographical information;
new or updated pronunciations (transcriptions and audio files);
new or revised etymological information and improved coverage of variant spellings;
new senses or phrases added in print and online updates since OED2 (1989).

Revisions and additions of this kind were last incorporated into huhint. in September 2024.

Earlier versions of this entry were published in:

OED First Edition (1899)

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OED Second Edition (1989)

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View huhint. in OED Second Edition

Cite

Permanent link:

Chicago 18

Oxford English Dictionary “,” .

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MLA 9

“” Oxford English DictionaryOxford UP .

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APA 7

Oxford University Press. (n.d.). In Oxford English dictionary. Retrieved from

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Citation details

Factsheet for huhint.

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Nearby entries

hugmateen.1699–1704
hug-me-tightn.1860–
Hugon.1950–
Hugoesqueadj.1893–
hugsomeadj.1893–
Huguenotn. & adj.1565–
Huguenoticadj.1897–
Huguenotismn.1611–
hugyadj.c1420–1728
huhn.1826–
huhint.1608–
hühnerkobeliten.1950–
huhun.1848–
huh-uhint.1948–
huin.1858–
huian.1845–
Huicholn. & adj.1900–
huikv.1570–1636
huingn.a1250–
huipiln.1875–
huisherv.1606

Browse more nearby entries