ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bah

interj.
C2 Proficiency US //ˈbɑ// UK //bˈɑː// bah Humorous

interj. you say this when you want to show that you do not care about something or think it is silly. It is a quick way to show you are annoyed or do not believe what someone said.

interj. expresses dismissive contempt, annoyance, or disbelief. Often associated with a grumpy or cynical persona, particularly in literary contexts.


SIMPLE

Bah! I don't believe a word of it.

CONTEXTUAL

When asked if he wanted to join the holiday party, the old man simply muttered 'Bah!' and closed his door.

COMPLEX

He dismissed the entire proposal with a sharp 'Bah!', suggesting that the financial projections were nothing more than optimistic fantasies designed to lure unsuspecting investors.

Origin

Early 19th century, probably borrowed from French bah.

Usage

Typically stands alone as a complete utterance or precedes a dismissive statement.

© 2026 English Reference