ah

interjection

1. 1

   An expression of relief, relaxation, comfort, confusion, understanding, wonder, awe, etc. according to uttered inflection.

   Ah, I understand now.

   Ah! It's good to be back home!

   Ah, the flowers of spring.

2. 2

   A syllable used to fill space, particularly in music.

   Boy don't try to front, uh, I Know just, just, what you are, ah, ah.

noun

1. 1

   An instance of the interjection ah.

   the crowd's oohs and ahs at the fireworks

verb

1. 1

   To give a cry of "ah".

   Mother and dad oohed and ahed over Cindy. She was only two months old but already was developing her personality.

pronoun

1. 1

   Variant of IPronunciation spelling of I, most often indicating that the speaker is using a Scottish or American (particularly Southern) accent or African-American Vernacular English.

   Did ah ever say anything derogatory against ma man Franco? Well, likesay. . . he's no a bad punter.

particle

1. 1

   Marks a yes–no tag question prompting the listener to clarify or confirm something.

   Pitch contour: low-mid /ɑ(ː)˨/, [ä˨]

   You’re dyslexic ah?

   So how are you Jackson? Very busy, ah? Never come around to see me these days.

   Cannot talk-ah? God give you mouth for what? No courtesy-ah? Kanneena!

2. 2

   Reinforces a short, non-rhetorical wh-question.

   Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/

   How do you delete this row ah?

   See how lor. Who’s going ar?

3. 3

   Emphasizes the need for absolute confirmation, permission or acknowledgment.

   Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/

   Don’t drink and drive ah...

   Sure, ah? Thanks, man, pai seh.

4. 4

   A particle indicating the topic of a sentence from its comment.

   Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/

   The drilling upstairs ah, non-stop leh.

   These fish, ah, anything also eat one.

5. 5

   A confirmative final particle used in the middle of a sentence to ascertain the continued attention of the listener.

   Pitch contour: rising /ɑ(ː)˨˦/

   Near-synonym: right

   You know, arh, Isaac—I’ve liked you from the very start, he said. I consider myself very lucky to be your manager.

6. 6

   Tagged at the end of non-interrogative sentence to convey a sense of informality or resignation.

   Pitch contour: mid-falling /ɑ(ː)˧˨/

7. 7

   A vocative particle, used for direct address (over telephone calls, or if the addressee is far away).

   Pitch contour: low-mid /ɑ(ː)˨/

   Hello? Joey ah?

   Susie ah, Emily here ah. This afternoon I'm going to town, anything that you're needing?

8. 8

   Used as an intensifier in fixed expressions, sometimes exhortative in meaning.

   Pitch contour: mid-falling /ɑ(ː)˧˨/, low-mid /ɑ(ː)˨/

   Heng ah...

interjection

1. 1

   Used condescendingly, somewhat like “see?” or “I told you so”.

   Pitch contour: mid-falling /ɑ(ː)˧˨/, falling /ɑ(ː)˦˨/, sometimes nasalized

interjection

1. 1

   Yuck.

Forms

plural

ahs, we

past tense

ahed

past participle

ahed

present participle

ahing

third person singular

ahs