English filler words: what they mean, when they help, and how to use fewer
Filler words are small sounds and phrases such as “um”, “well”, “you know” and “like” that speakers use to pause and think while keeping their turn. Everyone uses them, and a few are useful. The goal is not zero fillers, but fewer repeated ones and better ways to pause.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 6 min read
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The most common English filler words
| Filler | What it does | Example | Use it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| um, uh, er | Pure pause: you are thinking | “I think… um… we should wait.” | Normal. Too many sounds nervous |
| well | Starts an answer or a mild disagreement | “Well, it depends.” | Yes, at the start of an answer |
| so | Starts a topic or a conclusion | “So, here’s the plan.” | Yes, once in a while |
| like | Hedging, giving an example or quoting | “It was, like, really hard.” | Avoid as a habit; informal |
| you know | Checks that you are following or buys time | “It’s hard, you know?” | Casual only; avoid in interviews |
| I mean | Clarifies or corrects yourself | “I mean, it’s not bad.” | Occasionally in casual talk |
| actually / basically | Marks a correction or a summary | “Actually, I disagree.” | Fine if it adds meaning |
| right? / okay? | Checks agreement | “We start at nine, right?” | Fine in conversation |
| kind of / sort of | Softens a statement | “It’s kind of expensive.” | Fine; do not overuse |
Why we use fillers
Speaking in real time means planning the next idea while saying the last one. Fillers give your brain a second and tell the listener you still have the turn, so they do not interrupt. Native speakers do this constantly. For learners there is an extra reason: translating in your head takes time, and the pause fills with “um”.
That is why fillers are a fluency issue, not a grammar one. They fall as you build faster access to words and phrases. See how to speak English fluently and how to speak English confidently.
Fillers that help you sound natural
Replacing every filler with silence can make you sound stiff. These “planned” fillers are polite and natural, and they buy time without sounding nervous:
| Instead of “um…”, say | When |
|---|---|
| “That’s a good question.” | You need a moment before answering |
| “Let me think about that.” | A hard question, in an interview or a meeting |
| “Well, …” | Starting any answer |
| “What I mean is…” | You need to rephrase |
| “How can I put this?” | You are choosing a careful word |
| “Let me see…” | Looking for a fact or a number |
How to use fewer filler words
- Record yourself for one minute and count them. Most people are surprised by one or two repeated habits (“like”, “you know”) and not by all of them.
- Pause instead. A short silence sounds confident. Practise stopping at the end of a thought for one second.
- Plan your first words. Use a starter phrase (“Well,” or “That’s a good question.”) so you never start in silence.
- Learn chunks, not single words. When you know phrases, you stop searching for words. See common English phrases and collocations.
- Practise out loud with a partner who answers. Speaking to a voice tutor forces answers at conversation speed, and you can hear the habit. Try “tell me about yourself” with a timer.
Filler words in interviews and presentations
In an interview, a few “well”s and a short pause are fine. Repeated “like”, “you know” and “um” in every answer can make a good answer harder to follow. Prepare the first sentence of your main answers, such as why should we hire you, and practise it until it sounds natural. For presentations, see how to start a presentation.
Frequently asked questions
What are filler words in English?
Filler words are sounds or short phrases such as “um”, “uh”, “like”, “you know”, “well” and “I mean” that speakers use to pause and think without giving up their turn to speak.
Are filler words bad?
No. Everyone uses them, and some (“well”, “let me think”) help conversation flow. They become a problem when one filler is repeated in almost every sentence, because it distracts the listener.
How can I stop saying “um” and “like”?
Record yourself to find your habit, replace it with a short pause or a planned phrase like “That’s a good question”, learn phrases in chunks so you search for words less, and practise speaking aloud every day.
What can I say instead of “um”?
Try “Well,”, “Let me think about that”, “That’s a good question”, “How can I put this?” or simply pause for a second.
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- Filler (linguistics), Wikipedia