Talk:Eh

Scottish "eh"

"Eh" is also used in Scotland in an almost identical way to the description of Canadian "eh".

-Same in New Zealand.

Seconded. 99% of the Canadian part is exactly how it's used in New Zealand English.--61.30.11.130 09:39, 8 November 2007 (UTC)

In my experience, you can have 'eh' but most Scots, me included, say 'aye' in the case of 'those trees are red, aye?' or else 'those trees are red, are they no?' Munci (talk) 20:55, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

Don't know where you get the "aye" spelling, I'm Scots and that usually means yes and rhymes with "eye". Usually I wouldn't spell it as "eh" but I would spell it "ay". To rhyme with day. The Canadians pronounce it /ˈeɪ/ , and in Scotland it's exactly the same sound - it rhymes with "day", ay? Also as far as I can tell we Scots use it in exactly the same way as Canadians, at least we do in my part of Scotland (near Edinburgh) where people use it all the time, ay? It's often used at the end of a sentence as a way of inquiring if the person you are speaking to is in agreement with your statement. E.g. "That was really horrible, ay?". Sometimes it's even used mid sentence, "We've run oot o tea, ay, so I'm away up the shops tae get some". It can also be used in the expression "Ay no?" which means, isn't that right? On it's own, it also stands for "what". Ay? I think ultimately, there must be a connection with French "hein". Scotland once had a close relationship with France in the past called the Auld Alliance, and it wouldn't surprise me if that was the word's origin. 62.249.233.80 (talk) 19:46, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

I notice that the US section contains the sentence "In New England and Oklahoma it is also used as a general exclamation as in Scotland." But in the UK section, no mention is made of it being used particularly north of the border. I'd tend to agree with Munci as well. Most of my family are Scots and "eh" is very rarely, if ever, used as far as I can remember. IainP (talk) 10:54, 16 May 2008 (UTC)

No IainP, I'm a Scots speaker and believe me, we say it all the time. In fact, it can become quite annoying, ay! 62.249.233.80 (talk) 19:31, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

Hmmm I would more often use "ay" at the beginning of a sentence like "Ay You're coming with us to the pub tonight?". Anyway, the pronounciation in Scottish English is most likely /ˈe/ and "Ay no" I've never heard of. But I do know already there are some people from other parts of Edinburgh that speak differently. Munci (talk) 13:43, 11 September 2009 (UTC)

In fact here is the entry for eh in The Concise Scots Dictionary ISBN 0-08-028491-4:
eh ['ɛ, 'e] interj ~ aye la19-, ~ man 20-, ~ sirs 19- usu expressing affirmation, surprise, dismay now local NE-C
The local reference "NE-C" means North East and Central Scots. Usage of "Eh aye" and "Eh sirs" is from the late 19th century onwards. "Eh man" is from the 20th century onwards. As you can see "eh" ['ɛ, 'e] is a different entry from "aye", which is pronounced differently.
And here is the link to the entry in the Dictionary of the Scots Language/Scots National Dictionary Online: http://www.dsl.ac.uk/dsl/getent4.php?plen=1567&startset=10645339&query=EH&fhit=eh&dregion=form&dtext=snd#fhit--62.249.233.80 (talk) 18:36, 19 June 2010 (UTC)

I live in Nairn, and eh is used a lot here, and in neighboring places like Inverness, Ardersier. I've heard it said both ay, and eh and I use both of them. So, "Nice weather, eh?" or "I had a pretty rough day today eh. This guy was giving me a lot of hassle eh" or when greeting someone "What ya sayin eh?" It's usually a humorous topic when ay/eh is used in sentences numerous times, which happens a lot. Limmy (comedian) made a vine featuring the use of Eh (ay) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2.101.49.119 (talk) 17:59, 12 March 2015 (UTC)

Non-Canadian "eh"

Isn't "eh" also considered characteristic of USA areas bordering Canada, eg Minnesota?

Eh? Is also widespread thoughout England, famously by Scousers... "Eh? Eh? Calm down! Calm down!"

Like

Should there be a separate page for like? --Ed Poor

If you like. -user:Montrealais

'eh?' pronounced 'A?' is often used at the end of a question by Brummies (Birmingham bred folk) in the U.K. It is used in the same context as the Canadian 'eh?' and the Liverpudlian 'like?'

Schwa

I've removed the link to schwa, because it was just sitting there, unexplained. Was it supposed to imply that "eh" is pronounced thusly? By Canadians? By speakers of Mandarin? By whom? Eh? -- Oliver P. 17:15 24 May 2003 (UTC)

French/Quebec

I would like to know how to translate eh into french canadian (quebecois.)Some people say that bien or bè is equivalent. eh bien refers to well and is sometime used in an equivalent way. Which of thesese best captures the spirit of eh as a Canadianism

Trouble is, they also say ben in France... however, ben là seems to be unique to Quebec, and for all I know bon ben is as well. -Montréalais 21:56, 17 Apr 2004 (UTC)

"Bon ben" is very common in the South of France, around Marseille. Iamvered 19:38, 3 May 2007 (UTC)

In Ontario where I went to school, we were taught that "hien" could also be used in place of "eh". McKell now in Toronto.

In BC schools, when we memorized french dialogs (Quebec french), I remember the texts were printed with "hien" at the end of some sentences where "eh" might be in english. I forget the explanation of what that word conveyed, but in the "real world", I've never found a french speaker to confirm that this word exists or what it might imply. -- Ds13 17:34, 2 Jul 2004 (UTC)

As a North American student of French, it was my understanding that the stereotypical Canadian "eh" was common in part as a translation of -- or association with -- the French "hein." And perhaps "eh" originally entered English centuries ago as a cognate of "hein." --69.3.26.13 (talk) 00:55, 13 February 2009 (UTC)

"Hein" is probably the closest Canadian-French equivalent to "eh", it is used in the same contexts . Silent h, of course. 24.139.30.75 08:22, 26 December 2005 (UTC)

American Eh

In the United States (not including those that border Canada, as mentioned above), or at least the parts around here, "eh" is pronounced just as it's spelled ("eh", as opposed to "ay"). Shouldn't that be mentioned somewhere? GPHemsley 04:51, Sep 26, 2004 (UTC)

Other uses

In Japanese, "eh" used as an interjection with a sharply rising tone can carry the meaning of "What?!", indicating a surprised lack of comprehension. Would this fit on this page, or is that meaning too removed?

Also, in the novel Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, characters use a minor dialect variation that uses "ne?" at the end of a sentence to see agreement, and "Eh" to agree. While this works in Japanese (where "Ee", pronounced like "Eh", means "yes"), I've heard Card borrowed this usage from Portuguese. Again, relevant, or too removed? Bigpeteb

Same as Inuktitut say 'ii' pronounced "eeh" meaning "yes, yeah?, and isn't it?" Yup'ik say "ii-i" pronounced "ee-eh" meaning "yes" Also Aleut say "ii?" meaning "isn't it? (a question marker)" Sentence Inuktitut "hai?" pronounced "hei?" meaning "Eh? what are you trying say?" (Haqqalikitaaq (talk) 12:58, 23 November 2008 (UTC)

Not sure this is quite the same phenomenon, as "ii" means yes in Inuktitut...possibly in other Eskimo-Aleut languages also. However, it is interesting that so many diverse languages use [i:~e:] as an affirmative....162.247.45.152 (talk) 19:12, 29 May 2017 (UTC)

Genesis of exclusive Canadian usage?

"According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary the only usage of eh that is peculiar to Canada is for "ascertaining the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc., of the person or persons addressed" as in, "It's four kilometres away, eh, so I have to go by bike.""

As far as I can tell, this use in Canada is identical to the way 'yeh' is used by some dialects in British English. I'm not entirely sure what dialects those would be though, but I've definately heard it being used. Is this connected to the Canadian use?

That can't be right because in Scotland it's used in exactly the same way. We even pronounce it the same like ay, rhymes wi day, ay? 62.249.233.80 (talk) 19:54, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

I'm sure the Canadian Oxford Dictionary should be a reliable source, but I'm a Kiwi and that's probably the way I most commonly use 'eh'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 119.224.45.167 (talk) 21:59, 19 April 2011 (UTC)

I also doubt the whole "exclusive" claim made by the Canadian Oxford Dictionary. I'm sure it is used in this way in Yorkshire, and especially in the East of Leeds. --81.23.54.142 (talk) 23:33, 21 June 2013 (UTC)

I agree, sourced or not this is a bullshit claim. We use it exactly the same way in Scotland - even the example phrase given I read in a Scottish accent and it sounded normal (except it'd be miles instead of kilometres). "Exclusive to Canada" my ring.

2A01:4C8:102B:DB75:97FB:413D:4D6A:CBFA (talk) 15:51, 14 August 2019 (UTC)

Mandarin

In the mandarin, for some reason, the pinyin isn't coming out right; it's an e with a circonflex on it (which looks like an inverted third tone mark) but then the number 4. Is this third tone or fourth tone? And if it's fourth tone, one should mention that e4 also means "hungry".variable 14:35, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Eh/Hey

I am from Victoria, BC and my co worker who is Canadian says it "hey" :) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.108.182.49 (talk) 06:37, 7 December 2017 (UTC)

I've heard people from Western Canada (Saskatchewan and Alberta specifically) pronounce the word "hey", which sounded kind of strange to me at first...but the usage is exactly the same as I would expect for "eh" so it's obviously just another pronunciation. I'm not sure where to add that in the page, if it should be mentioned. Adam Bishop 15:51, 23 Mar 2005 (UTC)

• Please add pronunciations to the pronunciation sections of the dictionary entries hey and eh. Uncle G 01:13, 2005 Mar 25 (UTC)
• The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has an interesting variation on eh/hey. The older generation uses "eh" in a very Canadian way, while the younger generation tends to say "hey" instead. This is supposedly more similar to the Wisconsin usage. --Dcclark 21:17, 13 July 2005 (UTC)
• I live in Alberta, and have never heard someone pronounce it as "hey". --142.242.2.248 13:52, 26 October 2005 (UTC)
• BC Here and people say "hey" all the time. It's pretty much as common here as "eh"

• from western canada also and it is not uncommon to hear "eh" in place of "hey" at the beginning of sentences

example: "Eh Jimmy! Long time no see." example: "Eh kids what are you up to?" —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.128.90.169 (talk) 17:28, 12 January 2010 (UTC)

• This American born and raised ear living in BC can confirm: We hear both 'eh' and 'hey'. Usage often seems interchange, but not necessarily always. 'Hey' has seemed "Western," but this may be my imagination. (Calling Nova Scotia!...) I'll post examples if/when I hear any good ones. Btw, re Uncle G's comment above: If these are distinct words that are synonymous (in some, if not all meanings), the pronunciations of each word should NOT be updated, eh?... Also: Isn't there academic research on this subject?... userX (talk) 12:15, 16 September 2010 (UTC)

It should also be noted that Minnesota, and the Dakotas also use the 'hey' phrase at the end of sentences in a similar way to how Canadians say 'eh?'

Disputed section

Almost all (if not all) Americans understand "Eh?" as an interrogative utterance. Please provide a source fpr the converse statement.69.22.239.42 10:26, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

The part you are referring to was added recently, and (I think) totally wrong. Many parts of the US use "eh", as noted. Even in those which don't, it is certainly known as a Canadian stereotype, which gives it enough meaning to be understood. I'll go remove the offending bit. Anyone who wants to complain can explain it here. -- dcclark (talk) 22:30, 13 February 2006 (UTC)

Disputed section again

"Eh" is frequently used in Michigan. I should know, I'm from Michigan -- I hear "eh" all the time, used much the way Canadians do... so I wouldn't call it "exclusive to Canada". That's why I put the {{dispute}} tag on, eh? Ten Pound Hammer • ^{(((Broken clamshells • Otter chirps)))} 20:40, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

I was born and raised in Michigan (specifically going to school in the UP), and lived in Ontario for several years. There is one usage that we don't hear in Michigan. An example is: "So I went to the store, eh, and got some fertilizer, eh?" It's not the same use that we normally see -- in Michigan, it's a sentence-ending tag meaning, "yes?" The use I'm demonstrating from Canada is a mid-sentence interjecting meaning "are you following me?" I was totally befuddled by what sounded like a "wrong" use for my first few months in Canada, then I got used to it. It is not pronounced with questioning inflection. That is the specific usage which is cited as "unique to Canada" according to the OED. -- dcclark (talk) 21:38, 19 May 2007 (UTC)

Example - "I stopped by Timmy's, eh, for my double-double, but the line was too long."LeadSongDog 20:10, 20 September 2007 (UTC)

We use it exactly the same way in Scotland, mid sentence. Usually written "ay" because that's how it sounds, rhymes with "day". Example: "I've ran oot o sugar, ay, so I'm away over tae the shop tae get some." It's definitely not exclusive to Canada. There is no questioning inflection either. 62.249.233.80 (talk) 20:05, 10 September 2009 (UTC)

Chemistry?

Does the section about chemistry seem out of place to anyone else? Since this is a page about the word "eh," I think that this section belongs on the disambiguation page.

Youre dreaming eh? (talk) 22:58, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

Well, since there seems to be no objections, I'm going to move it soon; probably tomorro.

Youre dreaming eh? (talk) 15:37, 4 April 2008 (UTC)

Arg! It seams as though there's already a page on it. Should I just delete the chemestry section, and if so, what should I do with the reference (it's not mentioned on the Reduction potential page)? Sorry about all the question; I'm just a noob trying not to screw everything up.

Youre dreaming eh? (talk) 20:49, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

I'd suggest moving the reference to the Reduction potential page, and deleting the rest from this page. Then add a template to the top: "This page is about the tag word. For the chemical concept, see Eh". -- dcclark (talk) 21:16, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Too dictionary like

How about we remove from South Africa downwards!?--Cameron (t|p|c) 20:31, 22 April 2008 (UTC)

Another usage?

I was walking down my school's hall today, and I heard someone say "We have science next period, eh." The other person responded with "okay", and as soon as I heard it, I thought of this article. Would anybody else consider this another usage,or am I confusing it with another? (edit: I want to stress that this was said not as a question, but in a way to inform his friend about the next class. But now that I think about it, if it was said as a question, it could be another usage meaning "am I correct?") Unbalanced (talk) 21:38, 12 November 2008 (UTC)

I think that's within the same class of usage as the question example. It's probably akin to saying, "We have science next period, right?" It's not exactly the same, but it's close. Perhaps we could clarify that section in the article. Mindmatrix 22:02, 12 November 2008 (UTC)

That sounds like the uniquely Canadian usage mentioned at the very beginning of the "Canadian" section. From my time in Ontario, it sounds about right. -- dcclark (talk) 23:56, 12 November 2008 (UTC)

Yeah, I'll affirm that it sounds like something you'd hear around here in Ontario. As you mentioned, in the context it's not used as a question, but rather as an emphasis more or less meaning "you know" or "by the way". Usually these declarative statements require an affirmation, so "okay" is typical. If you look under the "English:Canada" section, the usage is further explained. - Io Katai (talk) 05:13, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Mention of 'aboot'

The unsourced statement saying 1-3% of Canadians say aboot... I don't see any need for this mention at all if it isn't backed up with a reference. "Aboot" is an approximation of the pronunciation of "about" when the speaker uses Canadian raising. Nobody actually says "aboot", and a lot more than 1-3% of Canadians speak with Canadian raising. I'm pretty confident that the statement is incorrect so I'm going to remove it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.248.180.225 (talk) 00:10, 16 April 2009 (UTC)

This article is crap

Sorry to Americans on the board, but this article was obviously written by an American. This article should be removed from Wikipedia as not only are the sources for Canada intended as comical use, but it stereotypical. It mentions nothing of the fact that Canadians mock Americans by mocking ourselves. This article is ridiculous. And I am annoyed because I tried editing it and my edit got reverted because it was "unconstructive." Has anyone at Wikipedia even read this article? It's comprised of total bs. —Preceding unsigned comment added by MrRipperKing (talk • contribs) 04:41, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

Unreliable Sources, and Stereotype

{{rfctag|lang}}

This article is a typical stereotype and is not a true representation of anything linguistic. Comedic references are not reliabel sources, as is stated by the Wikipedia requirements for articles. It is obvious that it is written by someone in the general public and not someone with knowledge of the subject.—Preceding unsigned comment added by MrRipperKing (talk • contribs) 23:03, March 6, 2010

And how was this edit you made any improvement? -- œ^™ 00:16, 17 March 2010 (UTC)

I would go so far as to question whether this article even meets the threshold of notability. I'd encourage editors that work in the linguistics project to assist. Is it needed to have an encyclopedia article for individual words that have different cultural uses and pronunciations? Ngaskill (talk) 03:40, 30 March 2010 (UTC)

Only New Zealand wproject?

I do not see that the article is specifically about a New Zealand-related issue. It is about "linguistics" itself. I am going to change the wikiproject. Mohamed Magdy "Mido", Thank You! 06:17, 7 March 2010 (UTC)

Objective Stance of a Kiwi

The references regarding how 'eh' is used in NZ are just so invalid. Take note that the reference is from someone who is not NZ born and raised. OK the statistics state that more Maori people use 'eh', hey it's probably true. But have you not looked at the aspect that 'eh' is also a term also used to solidify equality? NZ has a tall poppy syndrome here, why has none of this been introduced into the argument? There is also the situation of people who refuse to use 'eh' because they believe it places them in a lower status. However most important of all, NZ is place of mass immigration, we have a large part of Asia and the Pacific integrating into our society at a very fast rate. The term Kiwi (AKA New Zealander) means you have successfully integrated into our society, blood and linguistic preference is irrelevant! The reference to NZ is taken from 1994, 16 years ago from someone Scottish, who we can not even confirm that has lived and experienced NZ. Better referencing needed, doesn't concur with the NZ of today at all, concurs more with some sort of class-system the UK still inflicts on itself. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 219.89.139.205 (talk) 07:58, 30 May 2010 (UTC)

Totally agreed. Signed, a Kiwi who is in none of the demographics mentioned and uses 'eh' all the time. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 119.224.45.167 (talk) 22:01, 19 April 2011 (UTC)

Why don't you?

As in: You could walk there, eh? You could just ask, eh? --JimWae (talk) 21:31, 15 May 2011 (UTC)

What a **** load of ****!

Please let someone who actually know something about the subject (what the hell is the subject anyway?) look at this article! It doesn't make any sense at all! for example, in every language there is some "making noise while thinking about your next word" -sound. in swedish it may be eh or ehm, in german aehm/ehm/eh in french uh, in dutch ehm,uhm,èh. Its just noises! In most of the european languages they sound more or less the same. like the english "ow" (for pain) or in german "auwa" or the dutch "auw". seriously this is one of the least usefull articles on wikipedia I ever read! — Preceding unsigned comment added by 217.149.208.98 (talk) 02:22, 8 January 2012 (UTC)

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