#328: Be More Expressive in English Conversations | Reaction Words & Interjections

Have you ever been in this situation? You’re at work, and a colleague or client thanks you for your help. You want to respond naturally, but…

• You automatically say “you’re welcome” every time
• You hear native speakers using different expressions but aren’t sure when to use them
• You worry about sounding too casual or too formal Or maybe you’re in a meeting where everyone responds naturally to thanks with varied expressions like “no worries” or “my pleasure,” but you stick to the safe option because you’re not confident about using alternatives.

I get it. You want to sound natural and professional when responding to thanks in English. You have the professional skills. You just need the right expressions to show your confidence and build stronger workplace relationships.

That’s why I created this English lesson for you.

In this comprehensive lesson on responding to thanks, you’ll learn:

• 12 natural ways to reply to “thank you” in English
• Exactly when to use each expression
• How to match your response to different professional situations

This professional English lesson is perfect if you:

✓ Work in an international company or with English-speaking clients

✓ Want to sound more natural in everyday conversations

✓ Are ready to move beyond basic expressions in professional settings

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to memorize dozens of responses. You just need to understand a few key expressions and know exactly when to use them.

Want to master casual and professional thank you responses in English? Get started with the video below.

TAKE THE NEXT STEP: To get comfortable using reaction words in your English speaking, begin with my free How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English training.

This 3-step process gives you practical tools to use what you learn and see real results in your communication.

Then, when you’re ready to reach your goals faster, join me in the Confident Women Community. It’s a supportive space to put everything you’ve learned into practice, refine your grammar, and connect with women working toward the same goals. Learn more about the Confident Women Community here.

Related Lessons:
* Small Talk Questions in English
* How to Show Active Listening
* Professional English for Online Meetings

Be More Expressive in English Conversations | Reaction Words & Interjections

What Is An Interjection?

Reaction words are like the emojis of spoken language—quick, simple sounds that express emotion and personality.

Think about these examples:

• “Ow!” (pain)
• “Phew!” (relief)
• “Ugh!” (frustration)
• “Yay!” (joy)

These small words are unique because they convey powerful feelings without grammar rules. Just as an emoji adds emotion to a text, reaction words do the same in conversations.

When and Where English Speakers Use Interjections

You’ll hear reaction words in a variety of situations, including:

• Informal conversations with friends or coworkers.
• Text messages and emails, especially casual ones.
• Social media posts, adding personality to captions or comments.
• Everyday conversations, when reacting to news, surprises, or emotions.

Here’s how they’re often used in sentences:

• At the beginning: “Ugh, I can’t believe I forgot my wallet.”
• In the middle: “This pizza is, mmm, absolutely delicious.”
• At the end: “We’re finally done with the project. Woohoo!”

Interjections to Express Positive Emotions 🎉

Let’s start with positive expressions – these are often the most fun to learn and can immediately help you show warmth and engagement in your conversations.

Admiration & Understanding 💡

When that “lightbulb moment” hits or you want to show appreciation:

Ahhh/Oohh

• Used to show sudden understanding or realization
• Think of it as your “I get it now!” sound Example: “Oohh, I get it! I need to whip the eggs with the sugar.”

Mmm

• Shows appreciation or enjoyment
• Often used when something is pleasing to the senses Example: “Mmmm, this candle smells really good.”

Excitement and Triumph 🥳

These sounds help you celebrate successes – big and small:

Aha!

• The classic “eureka” moment
• Used when you figure something out or prove a point Example: “Aha! I knew you’d forget to bring a copy of the book.”

Woohoo!

• Pure joy and excitement
• Perfect for celebrating good news Example: “Woohoo! We won the contest!”

Yay!

• Cheerful celebration
• Works for any happy occasion, big or small Example: “Yay! I can’t wait to see you next weekend. I’m glad we found a day and time that works.”

Watch Out For This One: Whoop-de-doo

• This is sarcastic – meaning the opposite of celebration
• Be careful! This shows you’re unimpressed or annoyed Example: “Well whoop-de-doo, you knew the secret before I did.”

Relief 😌

When stress melts away, these sounds help express that feeling:

Phew

• A soft whistle-like sound showing relief
• Often used after avoiding something stressful Example: “Phew! I’m glad we submitted the report before midnight.”

Ahh

• A relieved sigh
• Shows tension releasing Example: “Ahh, thank God everyone’s ok; this storm was brutal.”

Interjections to Express Negative Emotions 😔

Sometimes you need to express when things aren’t great. These sounds help you be honest about your feelings in a natural way.

Disgust 🤢

For those moments when something just isn’t right:

Ick/Ew/Yuck

• Shows strong dislike or disgust
• Common with food or unpleasant situations
• “Ew” is especially popular in casual conversation Examples: “Ick! I can’t believe he ate that!” “Eww, the apples in the fridge are rotten.”

Disappointment 💔

When things don’t go as hoped:

Aww

• A gentle way to show you feel sorry about something
• Shows empathy for others’ disappointments too Example: “Aww, I was looking forward to the concert. Too bad it was canceled.”

Blah

• Shows lack of excitement or enthusiasm
• Can express mild disappointment Example: “Blah, the second date was awful.”

Pffff

• Shows dismissal or disappointment
• The longer you extend the sound, the stronger the feeling
• Often includes eye-rolling in person Example: “The doctor advised me to eat less sugar. Pfff, I can’t even enjoy the holidays.”

Frustration & Annoyance 😤

For those moments when you need to express irritation:

Argh/Ergh

• Shows frustration or annoyance
• Can be said quietly or loudly depending on feeling strength Example: “Argh! The electricity went out and I lost all my files!”

Hmph

• Shows disapproval or mild annoyance
• Often used when feeling slightly offended Example: “Those kids always walk through my rose bushes, hmph!”

Tsk-tsk/Ttch

• Shows disapproval
• Made by clicking your tongue
• Can come across as judgmental, so use carefully Example: “Tsk-tsk, he’s late for work again!”

Mistakes 😬

We all make them – here’s how to react:

Uh-oh

• Shows you realize something’s wrong
• Often used right when you notice a problem Example: “Uh-oh, I locked the keys inside the car.”

Oops/Whoops

• Casual way to acknowledge a minor mistake
• Shows you’re not too worried about it Example: “Oops, I sent the wrong link for the Zoom meeting.”

D’oh!

• Shows frustration at your own silly mistake
• More casual, often humorous Example: “I just deleted all the pictures on my phone. D’oh!”

Boredom 🥱

When something’s just not holding your interest:

Yada, yada, yada

• Shows you want to skip over boring or obvious details
• Useful when summarizing predictable stories Example: “The story was typical: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, yada, yada, yada.”

Meh

• Shows lack of interest or enthusiasm
• Perfect for neutral or unimpressed feelings Example: “Meh. I wasn’t impressed by the presentation.”

Blah

• Expresses boredom or dullness
• Can describe something lacking excitement Example: “The first few pages of the book were blah. There is too much describing and less storytelling.”

Interjections to Express Surprise or Confusion 😳

Surprise 😲

When something unexpected happens:

Oh

• Shows sudden understanding
• Perfect for “light bulb” moments Example: “Oh, you wanted oat milk, not regular milk.”

Eek!

• Shows startled surprise
• Often used for sudden scares or excitement Example: “Eek! There’s a mouse under the cabinets!”

Whoa

• Shows amazement or strong surprise
• Also used to say “slow down” or “wait a minute” Example: “Whoa! I didn’t know you’d be here!”

Yikes

• Shows alarmed surprise
• Often used for concerning situations Example: “I found out the neighbors were robbed two days ago. Yikes!”

Confusion 🤷‍♀️

When you need a moment to process:

Huh/Eh

• Shows you didn’t understand something
• Polite way to ask for clarification Example: “Huh? Could you repeat that? I didn’t hear you.”

Um

• Shows you’re thinking or hesitating
• Gives you time to organize thoughts Example: “I’m not sure how we can reduce costs, but umm I think we can start by analyzing unnecessary costs.”

Hmm

• Shows you’re thinking deeply
• More thoughtful than “um” Example: “Hmmm, I’m not sure. Where do you think we should go for dinner?”

Interjections to Express Requests 🙋‍♀️

Sometimes you need to get someone’s attention or ask for something specific:

Shhh

• Requests quiet or silence
• Can be gentle (calming a baby) or firm (library setting)
• Length of sound shows urgency Example: “Shhh, no talking in the library!”

Psst

• Gets someone’s attention quietly
• Often used for sharing secrets or private information
• Keep it soft and brief Example: “Pssst, did you hear about what happened yesterday?”

Ahem

• Politely gets attention
• Shows someone has forgotten about you
• More professional than “hey!” Example: “Ahem, I’d like to add something.”

Interjections to Express Agreement or Disagreement 👍👎

How to show you agree or disagree without using full sentences:

Mm-hmm

• Shows agreement while listening
• Encourages speaker to continue
• Keep tone neutral and encouraging Example: “Do you think we should leave earlier to avoid traffic?” “Mm-hmm.”

Duh

• Shows something is obvious
• Caution: Can be considered rude
• Often used with friends, not professionally Examples: “We should go early to help out, right?” “Duh.” “Duuhh, you didn’t plug it in.”

Uh-uh/Nuh-uh

• Informal way to say “no”
• Can sound childish in professional settings
• Better for casual situations Example: “You broke the lamp, didn’t you?” “Nuh-uh!”

Nah

• Casual “no”
• Softer than saying “no”
• Good for informal situations Example: “Do you feel like watching a movie?” “Nah.”

Pffft [Sounds like Fffft]

• Shows strong disagreement
• Dismisses an idea completely
• Can be seen as confrontational Example: “You should consider getting Botox.” “Pffft, it’s not worth the pain.”

Over to You

Choose 2 or 3 of your favorite words from the lesson and create your own example sentences.

Be sure to create sentences you can use in your real English life (this will help you remember them!). Then, share your sentences below.

Remember: These small sounds help you show your true self in English conversations. Start small, be patient with yourself, and have fun with it!

All my best,

~ Annemarie

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