Home  Features Life in Canada Canadians use that word a lot, eh?
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Canadians use that word a lot, eh? |
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If there is one word in
the English language that is considered quintessentially Canadian, it
is 'eh'. People in Canada tend to use it to express everything from a
simple statement ("It's 5 o'clock, eh, I'd better get going") to
amazement ("That's some feat, eh!") to anger (a simple "Eh?" delivered
in disapproving tones).
Since the use of the word is known to be so widespread in Canada, it is often used around the world to parody Canadian English. However, there is some doubt that the word itself originated in Canada.
One theory is that the "eh" sound is similar to the "ey" sound that a native French speaker will stereotypically say when pronouncing the word "Hey". French is widely spoken in Canada, especially in the province of Quebec where Francophones are in a majority.
In addition, the use of "eh" an exclamation ("He's really something, eh!") has its origins in Scotland, where it can still be heard.
Similar sounding expressions also exist in Japanese, Maori, Dutch and Italian. In most cases, the use of "Eh" takes on the meaning of "Huh?", "What?", "Hey", or "Repeat that, please".
What makes it different in Canada is that "eh" can take on different meanings depending on where it is interjected and the expression with which it is delivered.
According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, one 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." Similarly, "It's nine-o'clock, eh?" means "You do know that it's nine o'clock? You are aware that it's nine-o'clock?".
In that case, eh is used to confirm the attention of the listener and to invite a supportive noise such as "Mm" or "Oh" or "Okay". It essentially is an interjection meaning, "I'm checking to see you're listening so I can continue."
"Eh" can also be added to the end of a declarative sentence to turn it into a question. For example: "The weather is nice." becomes "The weather is nice, eh?" This same phrase could also be taken as "The weather is nice, don't you agree?".
Depending on the speaker's tone or the dialectal standard, eh can also be perceived as rude or impolite, as "Repeat that!", and not a request.
Further examples of Canadian usage include: "I know, eh?" (Agreement), "Yeah, eh?" (Agreement; tone of voice changes meaning slightly). "I know. Eh!" (Pause between 'know' and 'eh' and emphasise 'eh'. This is an excited agreement.) Although technically questions, these are also said as statements.
While not used as often as in Canada, 'eh' is part of common vocabulary around the world, and not just in English.
"Eh?" used to solicit agreement or confirmation is heard regularly amongst speakers in Australia (where it is sometimes spelled "ay" on the assumption that "eh" would rhyme with "heh" or "meh"). It is also heard in the United States, especially, Minnesota and the midwest, Oklahoma and the New England region.
In the New England and Oklahoma it is also used as a general exclamation as in Scotland. In the rest of the United States, especially the Upper Midwest, it is most often used to turn a statement into a question, as in "So you got a new car, eh?", and it is in relatively widespread usage throughout the United States in a more hostile or interrogative context ("So you want a piece of me, eh?").
While the usage of the term "Eh?" in New Zealand English is similar to that in other forms of English, it is gaining increasing usage and reinforcement through its similarities in pronunciation and meaning to the Maori affirmative "Nei". In recent years, this usage has spread rapidly in the poorer parts of New Zealand's main cities (which often have a higher proportion of Maori and Pacific Islander residents) and from there to the general population.
Due to its pattern of spread, it is often seen as a social indicator, although — like many speech patterns spread in this way — it has gained popularity rapidly as a fashionable usage. As with Canada, it has also gained widespread use as a stereotype, here representing the speech patterns of urban Maori.
"Eh?" is a common exclamination in Japanese and is used to express surprise. It is also used when the listener did not fully understand or hear what the speaker said. It can be lengthened to show greater surprise (e.g. EEEEEEh?). "nee/ne?/naa" are extremely similar to the Canadian "eh," being statement ending particles which solicit or assume agreement, confirmation, or comprehension on the part of the listener.
In Mandarin Chinese, eh is a relatively infrequently used exclamation expressing disappointment or affirmation.
Eh is also used in Italian spoken language to express surprise or misunderstanding, but also as a general word for turning an affirmation into a question.
Related:
So you'd like to speak Canadian, eh?
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