Eh is a spoken interjection in English and Spanish meaning "Huh?", "What?", "Hey", or "Repeat that, please". It is also commonly used as a method for inciting an answer, as in "those trees are red, eh?"

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 as to 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".

In addition, "eh" can also be used as an exclamation: "He's all right, eh!" This has its origins in Scotland, where it can still be heard.

It can also mean "I don't care" or "whatever", when pronounced as it is spelled (not like "ey", but an unstressed "eh").

Use in different countries

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Canada

The only usage of eh that is peculiar 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." Similarly, "It's nine-o'clock, eh?" means "You do know that it's nine o'clock? You are aware that it's nine-o'clock?".

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 "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 as a stereotypical Canadianism. Many Canadians dispute its use (for example, singer Don Freed in his song "Saskatchewan" declares "What is this 'Eh?' nonsense? I wouldn't speak like that if I were paid to.").

See also: Canadian words, Bob & Doug McKenzie

Australia, New Zealand, and the United States

"Eh?" used to solicit agreement or confirmation is also heard regularly amongst speakers in Australia (where it is sometimes spelled "ay" on the assumption that "eh" would rhyme with "heh" or "meh"). 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, 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. In the rest of the United States, especially the Upper Midwest, it is most often used to turn a statement into a question, as in "Nice weather, eh?", "So you got a new car, eh?", and it is in relatively widespread usage throughout the United States in a more hostile or interrogative context "So you want a piece of me, eh?", "You were in her bedroom last night, eh?". The use of the word "eh" is not as pervasive in the United States as in Canada, but it is a standard part of the vocabulary.

Since usage of the word "eh" is not as common in the United States as it is in Canada, it is often used by Americans to parody Canadian English.

South Africa

The equivalent in South African English is "hey", of Dutch origin.

Similar terms in other languages

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Japanese "Eh?" is a common exclamination 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. EEEEEEh?). "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 spoken language to express surprise or misunderstanding, but also as a general word for turning an affirmation into a question.

Canadian culture | New Zealand culture