Ahem Is a Cough Spelled Out
Ahem is the written form of a deliberate throat-clearing. It belongs to a small class of words for non-verbal sounds.
Ahem represents a deliberate cough or clearing of the throat, used to attract attention or signal mild disapproval. It belongs to a small group of English words that spell out sounds people make but do not really say: *hmm*, *shh*, *psst*, *tsk*, *ugh* and *brr*. Several contain no vowel at all, which is unusual for English words. *Ahem* is an extended form of *hem*, recorded from the 1700s, and carries a distinctly pointed tone in writing.
- A throat-clearing. *Ahem, excuse me.*
- Hem — the shorter form. *Hem and haw.*
- Hmm — thoughtful. *Hmm.*
- Psst — attracting attention. *Psst.*
- Imitative. *From the 1700s.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Interjection | ahem | Ahem. |
| Shorter | hem | Hem. |
| Verb | ahem | He ahemed. |
| Related | hmm | Hmm. |
| Related | harrumph | Harrumph. |
- Ahem, I believe that is my seat.Attention.
- He hemmed and hawed.Related.
- Several such words have no vowel.Language.
Words that spell out sounds
- Ahem — a pointed throat-clearing
- Hmm — thinking or doubting
- Shh — requesting silence
- Psst — attracting attention quietly
- Tsk, ugh, brr — disapproval, disgust and cold
Imitative, an extended form of *hem*, recorded from the early 1700s.
Can English words have no vowels?
A few interjections do, such as shh, psst, tsk and hmm. They are unusual precisely because they represent sounds rather than words.
What does ahem signal?
Usually that the speaker wants attention or is pointedly registering disapproval, more emphatic than a real cough.