Eh 55944 225654915 2008-07-14T19:25:46Z ClueBot 4928500 Reverting possible vandalism by [[Special:Contributions/86.135.12.190|86.135.12.190]] to version by Discospinster. False positive? [[User:ClueBot/FalsePositives|Report it]]. Thanks, [[User:ClueBot]]. (440221) (Bot) {{Two other uses|the interjection|chemical concept|Eh (chemistry)||EH}} {{Refimprove|date=December 2006}} {{wiktionarypar|eh}} '''''Eh''''' ({{pronEng|ˈeɪ}} or {{IPA|/ˈɛ/}} in English) is a spoken [[interjection]] in [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[English language|English]], [[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]] and [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] meaning "[[Wiktionary:Huh|Huh]]?", "[[Wiktionary:What|What]]?", "[[Wiktionary:Hey|Hey]]", "Repeat that, please", or "That which I just said, is it not true?". It is also commonly used as a method for inciting an answer, as in "those trees are ugly, eh?" In English, it is most commonly associated with [[Canada]]. It is an invariant [[question]] tag, unlike the "is it?" and "have you?" tags that have, with the insertion of ''not'', different construction in positive and negative questions. There is some question about the origin of the term, a popular theory is that the "eh" sound is similar to the "ey" sound that a native French speaker will stereotypically say when pronouncing the word "Hey". Dropped H's are also common to many British dialects. ==Throughout the Anglosphere== ===Canada=== The only usage of ''eh?'' that is exclusive to [[Canada]], according to the ''[[Canadian Oxford Dictionary]]'', is for "ascertaining the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc., of the person or persons addressed" as in, "It's four kilometres away, eh, so I have to go by bike." In that case, ''eh?'' is used to confirm the attention of the listener and to invite a supportive noise such as "Mm" or "Oh" or "[[Wiktionary:Okay|Okay]]". It essentially is an interjection meaning, "I'm checking to see you're listening so I can continue." "Eh" can also be added to the end of a declarative sentence to turn it into a question. For example: "The weather is nice." becomes "The weather is nice, eh?" This same phrase could also be taken as "The weather is nice, don't you agree?". Depending on the speaker's tone or the dialectal standard, ''eh'' can also be perceived as rude or impolite, as "Repeat that!", and not a request. Further examples of Canadian usage include: "I know, eh?" (Agreement), "Yeah, eh?" (Agreement; tone of voice changes meaning slightly). "I know. Eh!" (Pause between 'know' and 'eh' and emphasise 'eh'. This is an excited agreement.) Although technically questions, these are also said as statements. The usage of "eh" in Canada is often mocked in the [[United States]], where some view its use - along with ''[[Wiktionary:about|aboot]]'', an alternative pronunciation of ''about'' - as a stereotypical Canadianism. Such stereotypes have been reinforced in [[popular culture]], and were famously lampooned in ''[[South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut]]''; however, many Canadians dispute its use. Singer [[Don Freed]] in his song "[[Saskatchewan]]" declares "What is this 'Eh?' nonsense? I wouldn't speak like that if I were paid to." There are many merchandise items on the market today that use this phrase, such as t-shirts and coffee mugs.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} It is often joked about by Canadians as well, and is sometimes even a part of the national identity.<ref>Will Ferguson & Ian Ferguson, ''How to be a Canadian'' (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre) 65-68</ref> For example, a Canadian national team is sometimes referred to as the "Eh? team". Likewise, at one of their concerts, a member of the [[Canadian Brass]], referring to their [[arrangement]] of the [[jazz standard]], "[[Take the A Train]]," said that they'd considered calling it "Take the train, eh?". A classic joke illuminating this: "How do you spell 'Canada'?" "C, eh, N, eh, D, eh." The 2004 edition of the ''Canadian Oxford Dictionary'' states that "eh" is used most frequently by residents of Manitoba, Ontario, and New Brunswick, somewhat less frequently in Quebec, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, and the three territories, and rarely if ever in Nova Scotia, Alberta and Newfoundland. This may reflect cultural differences among the provinces, perhaps including the physical distance between various areas of Canada and major American population centres. {{see also|Canadian English|Bob & Doug McKenzie}} ===Elsewhere=== The usage of the word is widespread throughout much of the UK, particularly in the north of England, in places such as [[Yorkshire]] and the [[Midlands]], and also in various parts of [[Scotland]]. "Eh?" used to solicit agreement or confirmation is also heard regularly amongst speakers in [[Australia]] (where it is sometimes spelled "[[Wiktionary:ay|ay]]" on the assumption that "eh" would rhyme with "[[Wiktionary:heh|heh]]" or "[[Wiktionary:meh|meh]]"). In the [[Caribbean]] island of [[Barbados]] the word "nuh" acts similar. The usage in [[New Zealand]] is similar, and is more common in the North Island. It is also heard in the [[United States]], especially [[Minnesota]], [[Wisconsin]], the [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan]], the midwest, [[Oklahoma]] and the [[New England]] region. In [[New England]] and [[Oklahoma]] it is also used as a general exclamation as in Scotland. Since usage of the word "eh" is not common in the United States as it is in Canada, it is often used by Americans, and indeed Canadians themselves, to [[parody]] [[Canadian English]] similar to "aboot" (an alternative pronunciation of "about" which is peculiar to Canada). The equivalent in [[South African English]] is "hey", of [[Dutch language|Dutch]] origin. ==Kosovo & Albania== In Kosovo & Albania its also pronounced as "Ëh-Ëh" for confirmation of a question , but is mainly used in provinces as a quick reply but not in standard language , mainly in provinces and sometimes it is used often at every day language. ==Lebanon, Syria== Eh is also used in Lebanon and Syria with the meaning of "Yes" to agree about something ==Egypt== Eh is also used in [[Egypt]]ian [[Arabic language|arabic]] "ايه؟" as "What? say it again". It could also mean "What's wrong?" either in a concerned manner or a more aggressive one, depending on the tone used to pose the question. ==Sweden== Eh is in Sweden most commonly used as a way of filling out a sentence when speaking, usually when the person talking has not yet come up with a way of continuing what he/she just said; "there's much, eh, difficulties in Palestine" ==Similar terms in other languages==<!-- This section is linked from [[Pinyin]] --> [[Japanese language|Japanese]] "Hee?" is a common exclamation in Japanese and is used to express surprise. It is also used when the listener did not fully understand or hear what the speaker said. It can be lengthened to show greater surprise (e.g. Heeeeee?!). "nee/ne?/naa" are extremely similar to the Canadian "eh," being statement ending particles which solicit or assume agreement, confirmation, or comprehension on the part of the listener. In [[Mandarin Chinese]], ''eh'' (誒 in [[pinyin]]: ê4) is a relatively infrequently used exclamation expressing [[disappointment]] or affirmation. ''Eh'' is also used in [[Italian language|Italian spoken language]] to express surprise or misunderstanding, but also as a general word for turning an affirmation into a question. In southern Italy, éh is used to reconfirm a statement after someone else denies it, like 'Yes you do' or 'Yes it is' "Hein" is used in [[French language|French]] and in [[Brazilian Portuguese]] in much the same way as in English. ''Hain'' is used in [[Mauritian Creole]] and it can express a variety of ideas. It is generally used in context of a conversation and is generally interpreted very quickly. ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Canadian culture]] [[Category:Canadian English]] [[Category:New Zealand culture]] [[Category:Interjections]]