The English language can be so confusing at times. Aah, ah, ahh, aw, and awe are all pronounced the same—at least they are in the part of the country where I live—but each one has a different meaning. I know that I’ve used at least one of them in the wrong way before. Chances are, so have you.
Aah is an interjection that is used as an exclamation to express fear. Someone could have jumped out and startled you, a deranged killer armed with a knife or an ax could be chasing you, or a strange noise could have just sent chills up your spine.
Aah! It’s biting me!
“Aah!” screamed the kids as they rounded the dark corner in the haunted house.
“Aah!” shrieked the woman when the strange man who had been chasing her laid his hand on her shoulder from behind.
Ah is also an interjection. It is used as an exclamation to express pleasure, realization, resignation, and surprise.
Ah, my love, your wish is my command.
“Ah! That is just what I want,” said the old man.
Ah! We won the tournament!
Ah! That is such an awesome gift!
Ahh is used to express realization and acceptance.
Ahh, I think I see what you mean now.
Ahh, you have always been such an awesome friend.
Ahh, this is the way it must be.
Aw is used when you see something you think is cute or adorable. It is also used to show feelings of great disappointment. A variant spelling is aww, but that is less popular.
Aw, that is such a cute baby!
Aw, did you see the baby goat touch noses with her mama?
Aw, if we had succeeded, so many opportunities would have been possible.
Aw, if only I had studied harder, maybe I would have at least gotten a passing grade on the test.
T-Mobile-HR Derby,
Wikimedia Commons
Awe is an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc., produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful. One can be in awe of God, political figures, sports players, actors or actresses, etc.
In awe of God’s power, she fell to her knees in worship.
Awe flooded through her when she saw the intricate wonders of the universe.
The new mother gazed through the nursery window in awe of the beautiful babies.
As they approached the top of the mountain, the climbers stood in awe of the formidable view below.
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How would you spell ahh when if referring to someone taking a drink of refreshing soda?
i have a NJ Phli accent and i pronounce these differently but overall so helpful just what i was looking for!
This was so helpful I didn’t even know how to adkit into my phone with my voice to text the word I wanted to use I thought it was spelled awnh or augh or auhh but it turned out to be just aww thanks
That is a great article.
Thank you!
Isn’t “Ah” short for “Aha”?
Since “aha” is also used as an exclamation of triumphant discovery, mockery, contempt, irony, surprise, etc., it looks like those two words would be interchangeably. In my mind, I see “aha” being exclaimed at a moment of discovery, an aha moment.
……maybe to help clarify my earlier question, the aaah or ahhh is a pause in the pilot to pilot or pilot to ground transmission…..aaah, how long does it take to get back to me? Over.
If the pilot is in a dangerous situation and expressing fear, I would use “aah.” Otherwise, I would use “ahh.”
What would you use when transcribing pilot to ground conversations from a combat mission tape recording…, aaah or ahhh? Thank you!