eh French · revision 17423

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=c. 1050, Vie de saint Alexis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /e/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA: /ɛ/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an interjection of onomatopoeic origin.^(TLFi)^(Grand Robert 2005)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(FEW|3, 199a)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ It is first found as ''E !'' about 1050 in the ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It serves to call someone, draw attention or strengthen the word it precedes (''eh oui !'').^(DHLF 1992) Doubled, ''eh ! eh !'' (after 1650), it hints at something left unsaid, ironic or saucy; repeated, it also transcribes laughter.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi) ''Eh bien'' (17th century) marks the speaker's feelings or introduces a new point.^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1050 – ''E !'' in the ''Vie de saint Alexis''.^(TLFi)

+ * 14th century – The spelling ''eh''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * 17th century – ''Eh bien''.^(DHLF 1992)

+ * After 1650 – ''Eh ! eh !''^(DHLF 1992)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # [[m|en|hey]]: a call to attract attention: ''Eh ! là-bas !''^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # Strengthening the next word: ''eh oui !'', ''eh bien''.^(DHLF 1992)^(Petit Robert 2007)

+ # ''Eh ! eh !'': a knowing, ironic or saucy hint; also a transcription of laughter.^(Petit Robert 2007)^(TLFi)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[hé]]

+ * [[ah]]

+ * [[oh]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}