Is huh a universal word?

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Nov 12, 2013

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Is huh a universal word?

A new study from the Max Planack Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands found that the word, “Huh” could be a universal understood word.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 31: A woman speaks on her mobile phone on May 31, 2011 in New York City. In a new report by 31 scientists meeting at the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (WHO/IARC) it was found that using a mobile phone may increase your risk for certain kinds of brain cancers. While further scientific work will be conducted, the group of scientists from 14 countries classified cell phones in the carcinogenic category 2B, which is similar to the pesticide DDT and gasoline engine exhaust. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

A new study from the Max Planack Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands found that the word, “Huh” could be a universal understood word.

A new study from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in the Netherlands found that the word, “Huh” could be a universal understood word.

The scientists traveled to cities on five continents visiting native speakers of 10 languages and found that “Huh,” sounds similar in every language that looked at.

This filler word is seen as the glue that mends conversations together. How important is “Huh,” across languages? Is this the one word everyone can understand?