Interjections are short words or phrases that express strong emotion, reaction, or sudden feeling, often standing alone or set off by punctuation.
Interjections are a unique part of speech in English that convey emotions, reactions, or sudden bursts of feeling. They can express everything from surprise and joy to pain and frustration. Often, interjections stand alone or are set off by commas or exclamation points, and they don’t have a grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence.
- Express emotions or reactions
- Can stand alone or be part of a sentence
- Often punctuated with commas or exclamation points
- Not grammatically connected to other sentence parts
Common Interjections
Here are some of the most frequently used interjections in English, along with their typical meanings:
| Interjection | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Wow | Surprise or amazement | Wow! That’s amazing. |
| Ouch | Pain | Ouch! That hurts. |
| Hey | Getting attention | Hey! Wait for me. |
| Oh | Realization or mild surprise | Oh, I didn’t know that. |
| Uh-oh | Warning or something going wrong | Uh-oh, I forgot my keys. |
| Hooray | Joy or celebration | Hooray! We won the game. |
| Yikes | Fear or concern | Yikes, that’s scary. |
Usage Tips
- Interjections are often followed by an exclamation point to show strong feeling.
- They can be at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
- When written, interjections are often set off by commas if the feeling is mild.
- Avoid overusing interjections in formal writing.
- Use ! for strong emotion, or commas for milder tone
- Interjections can appear anywhere in a sentence
- Don’t rely on interjections in academic or professional writing
Cultural Notes
- Some interjections are universal, while others are specific to English or even particular English-speaking regions.
- Be mindful of context; what’s friendly in one culture might be rude in another.
- Mimicking natural interjections can help improve conversational English.
- Not all interjections translate directly across languages
- Regional variations exist (e.g., “Oi!” in British English)
- Listening to native speakers helps with natural usage
Interjections are small but powerful tools that bring life and emotion to English conversations. They help speakers express feelings instantly and naturally, making communication more vivid and engaging.
How can listening to native speakers help with using interjections?
It teaches natural timing and appropriate context
Listening to native speakers helps learners understand when and how to use interjections naturally, including timing and context.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
