What are filler words? Definition and list of examples
Filler words are sounds and words that fill a pause without adding meaning, such as um, uh, like, you know, so and basically. Everyone uses them: they buy time to think and signal "I'm not finished". They become a problem only when there are so many that listeners notice them more than your point.
A list of common filler words
| Type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Hesitation sounds | um, uh, er, ah, hmm |
| Discourse words | like, so, well, right, okay, now |
| Phrases | you know, I mean, kind of, sort of, you know what I mean |
| Intensifiers used as filler | basically, actually, literally, honestly, totally |
| Tags at the end | and stuff, or whatever, and yeah, right? |
The same word isn't always a filler. "I like this plan" uses like as a verb. "It was, like, huge" uses it as a filler. "So we moved the launch" can be a real link; "So… um… so yeah" isn't.
Why speakers use them
- Planning. The mouth gets ahead of the brain, and "um" holds the space while you find the next word.
- Holding the floor. A filler tells others you haven't finished, so they don't jump in.
- Softening. "Kind of" and "sort of" make a statement less blunt, overlapping with hedging language.
- Nerves. Silence feels longer under pressure, so people fill it.
- Habit. Some fillers become part of how a person talks with friends and carry over into interviews.
How to count yours
Most people can't hear their own fillers while speaking. Talk for a minute about your day, then run it through the filler word counter, or record yourself and tally them. Pick your most frequent one and work on that first; practical steps are in how to stop saying um.
Questions people ask
Are filler words always bad?
No. A few are normal and can sound natural. Removing every one can make you sound stiff.
How many filler words is too many?
There's no agreed cutoff. A useful test: if one filler shows up in most of your sentences, listeners will probably notice it.
What can I say instead of um?
Nothing: a short silent pause does the same job and sounds more confident.
Do other languages have filler words?
Yes, every language has its own, such as euh in French or este in Spanish.