Interjection Definition, Types, and 100+ Examples

Interjection: Definition, Types, and 100+ Examples

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An interjection is a part of speech that expresses strong emotion, surprise, joy, approval, disapproval, or other intense feelings. Interjections are often standalone words or short phrases and are not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence. They can convey a speaker’s emotional state or reaction to a situation.

Here are some examples of interjections:

  1. Wow! That was an amazing performance.
  2. Oh no! I forgot to bring my keys.
  3. Yay! We won the game!
  4. Alas! The treasure was nowhere to be found.
  5. Ouch! That hurt.
  6. Bravo! Well done on your speech.
  7. Hey! Wait for me.
  8. Ugh! I can’t believe I have to do this again.

Interjections are versatile and can be used to add emphasis, convey emotions, or express a quick reaction. They are often set off by exclamation points or commas when used within a sentence. While interjections don’t contribute to the grammatical structure of a sentence, they play a crucial role in expressing the speaker’s feelings or attitudes.

List of Interjections

Examples of Interjections
InterjectionPurposeExample
AlasTo express sadness or pityAlas! That was so unfortunate.
AhTo express realisation or surpriseAh, the magic show at the end was a total surprise!
EhTo enquire or ask for something to be repeatedEh! I didn’t quite get it. Can you please repeat it?
DearTo express pity or surpriseOh dear! I feel really bad for what happened to you.
HeyTo express surprise or call for attentionHey! Look out for the car.
HurrayTo express joyHurray! We finally cleared the test.
OhTo express pain or surpriseOh! I have a really bad headache.
OuchTo express painOuch! You stepped on my toes.
PhewTo express relief, exhaustion, disgustPhew! That was an extremely long presentation.
UhTo express hesitationUh! I don’t think I want to be a part of this.
WellTo introduce a remarkWell, what you just did was wonderful.
WowTo express your admiration for somethingWow! Your new car is amazing.
YippeeTo express joyYippee! Tomorrow is a new year.

How and When to Use Interjections?

Interjections are used to express strong emotions, reactions, or exclamations. They are typically standalone words or short phrases that convey the speaker’s feelings. Here are some guidelines on how and when to use interjections:

1. Expressing Emotion:

Interjections are commonly used to convey emotions. They can express joy, surprise, anger, excitement, or other intense feelings.

  • Examples:
    • Wow! That’s incredible!
    • Oh no! I can’t believe this happened.
    • Hooray! We won the championship.

2. Reacting to Situations:

Interjections can be used to quickly react to a situation, expressing approval, disapproval, or astonishment.

  • Examples:
    • Yikes! That was a close call.
    • Bravo! You did an outstanding job.
    • Ugh! This traffic is so frustrating.

3. Adding Emphasis:

Interjections can add emphasis to a statement or highlight the speaker’s attitude towards something.

  • Examples:
    • Indeed! That’s a wise decision.
    • Oh well! I guess we’ll have to try again.
    • Aha! I finally figured it out.

4. Standalone Expressions:

Interjections are often standalone expressions and are not grammatically connected to the rest of the sentence. They are set apart by punctuation, usually exclamation points.

  • Examples:
    • Hey! What are you doing?
    • Alas! We missed the last train.

5. Informal and Conversational Tone:

Interjections are common in spoken language and contribute to an informal and conversational tone. They add a personal touch to the expression of feelings.

  • Examples:
    • Oops! I spilled my coffee.
    • Aww! That puppy is so cute.

6. Use of Punctuation:

Interjections are often followed by exclamation points or commas to indicate the speaker’s tone and emotion. The choice of punctuation depends on the intensity of the expression.

  • Examples:
    • Hurray! (strong excitement)
    • Well, shoot. (mild disappointment)

It’s important to use interjections judiciously, considering the context and tone of the communication. While they add emotion and emphasis, overusing them might diminish their impact. In formal writing, it’s generally advisable to use interjections sparingly, if at all.

Additional Tips

  • When a short interjection is used at the beginning of a sentence, it should be followed by a comma.
  • When an interjection forms a sentence by itself, the interjection can be followed by a full stop, a question mark, or an exclamation mark.
  • When an interjection is used in the middle of a sentence, the interjection has to be preceded and followed by a comma.
  • In a conversation, interjections are sometimes allowed to stand alone.
  • It is better if you do not use too many or any interjections in a formal context.

Types of Interjection

Primary interjections

A primary interjection is a word or sound that can only be used as an interjection. Primary interjections do not have alternative meanings and can’t function as another part of speech (i.e., noun, verb, or adjective). Primary interjections are typically just sounds without a clear etymology. As such, while they sometimes have standard spellings, a single interjection may be written in different ways (e.g., “um-hum” or “mm-hmm”).

These interjections cover a variety of emotions and reactions and can be used to express feelings in different situations. While there isn’t a specific category known as “primary interjections,” the examples provided above give you an idea of the diverse range of expressions within the broader category of interjections.

Examples:

  • Ugh! That’s disgusting.
  • Um-hum. I think that could work.
  • We won the game. Yippee!

Secondary interjections

A secondary interjection is a word that is typically used as another part of speech (such as a noun, verb, or adjective) that can also be used as an interjection.

Examples:

  • Goodness! That was a close one.
  • Shoot! My flight has been canceled.
  • Awesome! Do that trick again.

Volitive interjections

A volitive interjection is used to give a command or make a request. For example, the volitive interjection “shh” or “shush” is used to command someone to be quiet.

Examples:

  • Shh! I can’t focus when you’re singing.
  • Psst. Pass me an eraser.
  • Ahem. Please pay attention.

Emotive interjections

An emotive interjection is used to express an emotion or to indicate a reaction to something. For example, the emotive interjection “ew” is used to express disgust.

Curse words, also called expletives, are commonly used (in informal contexts) as emotive interjections to express frustration or anger.

Examples:

  • Ew. I’m not eating that.
  • Yay! I’m so excited to see you.
  • Yum! This apple pie is delicious.

Cognitive interjections

A cognitive interjection is used to express a thought or indicate a thought process. For example, the cognitive interjection “um” can express confusion or indicate that the speaker is thinking.

Examples:

  • Um, can you explain it once more?
  • Wow! I wasn’t expecting that.
  • Eureka! I’ve solved the puzzle.

Greetings and parting words

While interjections are typically short expressions conveying strong emotions or reactions, they can be used as greetings and parting words to add emphasis or emotion to the exchange. Here are some examples:

Interjections as Greetings:

  1. Hey!
    • Usage: Hey! How’s it going?
  2. Hello!
    • Usage: Hello! Nice to see you.
  3. Hi there!
    • Usage: Hi there! What’s up?

Interjections as Parting Words:

  1. Goodbye!
    • Usage: Goodbye! Take care.
  2. Farewell!
    • Usage: Farewell! Until we meet again.
  3. So long!
    • Usage: So long! It was great talking to you.

Additional Expressions:

  1. Well then!
    • Usage: Well then! I’ll talk to you later.
  2. Alright!
    • Usage: Alright! Have a good one.
  3. See ya!
    • Usage: See ya! Take it easy.

Remember, interjections in greetings and parting words add a personal and emotional touch to the conversation. They are often informal and can vary based on the level of familiarity and the context of the interaction.

Interjections and punctuation

Interjections are often accompanied by specific punctuation marks to convey the intended tone or emotion of the expression. The choice of punctuation can influence how the interjection is interpreted. Here are common punctuation marks used with interjections:

  1. Exclamation Point (!):
    • Usage: Used with interjections to express strong emotions, surprise, enthusiasm, or urgency.
    • Example: Wow! That’s amazing!
  2. Comma (,):
    • Usage: Used to set off mild interjections or to create a pause in the sentence.
    • Example: Well, I never expected that.
  3. Period (.):
    • Usage: Rarely used with standalone interjections, as it can make the expression seem less emphatic.
    • Example: Oh no. This is not good.
  4. Question Mark (?):
    • Usage: Used with interjections when expressing surprise or seeking confirmation.
    • Example: What? You didn’t know?
  5. Ellipsis (…):
    • Usage: Used to indicate a trailing off or a pause in thought, often conveying uncertainty or hesitation.
    • Example: Umm… I’m not sure.
  6. Dash (— or –):
    • Usage: Used to create emphasis or a sudden break in thought, emphasizing the interjection.
    • Example: Oh — that’s unexpected.

It’s important to note that the choice of punctuation can influence the overall tone of the interjection. Exclamation points are commonly used for strong emotions, while commas or ellipses may soften the impact or convey a more contemplative tone. Punctuation helps convey the intended emotional context of the interjection in written communication.

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सर्वनाम (Pronoun) किसे कहते है? परिभाषा, भेद एवं उदाहरण भगवान शिव के 12 ज्योतिर्लिंग | नाम, स्थान एवं स्तुति मंत्र प्रथम विश्व युद्ध: विनाशकारी महासंग्राम | 1914 – 1918 ई.