THIS is the most common word worldwide

Dec 3, 2024

Aakanksha Sharma

The diversity

When we think about languages and speeches, the one thing we notice is diversity and difference. How the same figure has different words for it in different languages, but at the end of the day they all mean the same.

Some examples

For example, the word for flower in Hindi is ‘fool’, in Chinese it is ‘Hua’, in Korean it is ‘kkoch’, and so on. Even for a dog, there are words like ‘hund’ and more. So, what brings us all together at the end?

A common connect

But, do you know there is one word that is common to almost all languages, cultures, and expressions, and it defines a feeling of confusion. In fact, there is a chance you have said that word once already!

The word

The word we are talking about is ‘Huh’. And before the confusion intensifies, ‘huh’ is the expression people have when they are confused about something. When you don’t understand or hear what has been said, the word used is ‘huh’ for clarification.

Is it really a word?

While some say it is just a tool to express what you feel, and not a proper word that people speak, it is unarguable that it is the most common form of expression when people are confused or want someone to repeat themselves for clarity.

Backed with research

In fact, linguists from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics conducted a study across 31 languages and found that ‘huh’ is found in nearly every spoken language.

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How did it become popular?

​Well, in every language, ‘huh’ comes as a short, simple sound, and is just very brief. It is like the least possible alphabet with the best possible meaning. No matter in what tone the ‘huh’ is spoken, the person in front knows that he/she has to repeat themselves.

Different ‘huh’ used

The ‘huh’ is also used differently and it all depends on the tone you say it with. For example, a simple ‘huh’ can be about agreeing to something or showing you understand. A long ‘huuuh’ could be used to express surprise, and so on.

A learned expression

​Even though it is practically universal to use ‘huh’, it is a learned and acquired skill. People, with time, learn the different tones with which ‘huh’ is said and express their feelings accordingly.

Thanks For Reading!

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