Use Exclamations and Fillers to Sound More Natural

Using exclamations and filler words is a simple yet effective way to make your English sound more natural. However, it requires a lot of practice.

You might have noticed that sometimes you slip back into your native language when thinking in English. If you're from Mexico, for example, you might say "eh" or "bueno" while thinking.

These small moments are opportunities to elevate your English subtly. One of the easiest ways to do this is by incorporating common filler words used by native speakers, such as "really" and "seriously."

Americans tend to use these words frequently in response to someone's story or at the end of their comments to show they are paying attention. For instance, if you are talking to an American, they might say, "Oh, really? Seriously?" to demonstrate their engagement.

These words are rhetorical questions, which means they don't expect you to answer them.

They are simply a way of expressing interest and attention in the conversation. Incorporating these words can make you sound more natural and help you connect with native speakers.

Here are some of my favorite exclamations and fillers:

THINKING

• hmm 

• uh 

• um

EXCITEMENT

• yay

• yippee

• woo-hoo 

• great 

• awesome

SURPRISE

• whoa

• eek

• yikes

• wow

• really

• seriously

• huh

DISAPPOINTMENT

• shucks

• shoot

• aw

PAIN

• ow

• ouch

DISGUST

• ew

• yuck

ACCIDENT

• oops

SWEET

• aw

ANGER

• grr

RELIEF

• phew

BORING

• blah

QUESTION

• Huh?

It's essential to practice using these filler words and exclamations, so they become natural to you.

You don't want to overuse them, as that may make you sound insincere or overly dramatic.

However, by using them appropriately, you can add depth and personality to your English and make it sound more like that of a native speaker.