eh Italian · revision 37690

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=onomatopoeia|attested=late 12th century, Proverbia que dicuntur}}

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+ ==Forms==

+ '''eh''' (invariable)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is an expressive word, imitating a sound of the voice.^(DELI 1999)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) Nocentini calls it a Romance onomatopoeia whose meaning depends on the intonation: surprise, approval or resignation.^(Nocentini 2010) DEI and the TLIO compare [[la|eh]],^(DEI|1432)^(TLIO) and Tommaseo–Bellini noted that classical Latin had [[m|la|ehem]] and [[m|la|ehe]], though not in the same senses.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The TLIO's first record is in the ''Proverbia que dicuntur'', a Venetian poem of the late 12th century, as a sound of regret or resignation.^(TLIO) DELI dates it to the 14th century, in the ''Tavola Ritonda'',^(DELI 1999) which GDLI quotes: “Eh cavalieri, come non appellate voi davanti che voi intriate?” (Eh, knights, why do you not call out before you come in?).^(GDLI|5, 70)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In Old Italian the TLIO finds it expressing regret, vexation and impatience, reproach and warning, as a call for attention, and as a sign of not having understood.^(TLIO) Boccaccio's ''Decameron'' has the questioning ''eh?'' (“Come di'? Eh?”, what are you saying? eh?).^(GDLI|5, 70) The 17th-century grammarian Cinonio thought it little used in its pleading sense.^(GDLI|5, 70) Tommaseo–Bellini list it for prayer and lament, for indignation and disapproval, and at the end of a question.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)

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+ Modern dictionaries add its use in speech as an opening or closing signal and a filler, at the end of a rhetorical question, as an answer to one's name, and repeated as ''eh eh'' for an ironic laugh.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * Late 12th century – The ''Proverbia que dicuntur'' have the first record.^(TLIO)

+ * Before 1294 – Zingarelli's date of first record.^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ * 14th century – The ''Tavola Ritonda'' uses ''eh'' in an address.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|5, 70)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Interjection===

+ # Expressing [[m|en|resignation]], regret, reproach, surprise or hope, according to the tone: ''Eh, pazienza, sarà per un’altra volta.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # With ''via'' or ''là'', urging someone on or protesting: ''eh via!''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # At the end of a sentence, asking for agreement or stressing a rhetorical question, like English [[m|en|eh]]: ''Ti è piaciuto, eh?''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # In a questioning tone, showing that one has not understood: “what?”, “[[m|en|pardon]]?”^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(colloquial)'' In answer to one's name: “yes?”, “what is it?”^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # Repeated, ''eh eh'', a mocking or knowing laugh; also as an invariable noun.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ehi]]

+ * [[deh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Sabatini–Coletti give the pronunciation /ˈɛ/ or /ˈe/, also written ''eeh'' (long) or ''he'' /ˈhɛ/;^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) Zingarelli gives a long /ɛː/, and /eː/ as well in the first sense.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010) In the questioning use the vowel is always open.^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}