# hah

/ˈhɑ/ (US) · /hˈɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hah
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 2. asking for repetition

interjection · CEFR A2 · Informal

a sound used to ask someone to repeat what they just said because you did not hear it.

For teachers: a variant of 'huh' used as an interrogative to request the repetition of an utterance.

- Hah? Sorry, I wasn't listening to you just then.
- Hah? Could you repeat that last figure, as the connection dropped for a second?

### 3. tag question

particle · CEFR B2 · Dialect · Informal

a word added to the end of a sentence to check if the listener agrees or is paying attention.

For teachers: a sentence-final particle used to form tag questions or to seek confirmation and maintain phatic communication.

- You're coming to the party tonight, hah?
- We should probably finish the report before the weekend starts, hah?

Usage: Commonly used in Singaporean and Malaysian English (Singlish/Manglish) as a pragmatic marker.

## Examples

- She let out a soft hah when she heard the joke.
- He gave a nervous hah before starting his presentation to the large group.
- The audience responded with a collective hah, breaking the tension that had built during the long silence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.