Definitions and meaning of aha
aha
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English a ha, aha, natural expression. Equivalent to ah + ha!.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ɑːhɑː/
- (General American) enPR: ä-häʹ, IPA(key): [ɑˈhɑ], [əˈhɑ]
-
- Rhymes: -ɑː
Interjection
aha
- An exclamation of understanding, realization, invention, or recognition.
- An exclamation of surprise, exaltation, or contempt.
Derived terms
Translations
See also
Anagrams
Czech
Pronunciation
Interjection
aha
- aha, I see (expresion of understanding, realization, invention or recognition)
Noun
aha n (indeclinable)
- (colloquial, obsolete) toilet
- Synonyms: záchod, toaleta
Further reading
- “aha”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
- “aha”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
Esperanto
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈaha/
- Rhymes: -aha
- Hyphenation: a‧ha
Interjection
aha
- aha
- Synonym: oho
Ewe
Pronunciation
Noun
aha (plural ahawo)
- alcohol
Finnish
Etymology
Like ah (to which it is somehow related), tracing an exact origin is impossible. Probably ultimately a natural expression.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɑhɑ(ˣ)/, [ˈɑ̝ɦɑ̝(ʔ)]
- Rhymes: -ɑhɑ
- Syllabification(key): a‧ha
- Hyphenation(key): aha
Interjection
aha
- uh-huh (indicates that the speaker agrees or is simply still listening)
Usage notes
Depending on the context and intonation (especially with rising intonation), the interjection may instead be interpreted as dismissing or disagreeing with an opinion.
See also
Anagrams
German
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʔaˈha/
-
- Rhymes: -aː
Interjection
aha
- aha
Further reading
- “aha” in Duden online
- “aha” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Gothic
Romanization
aha
- romanization of 𐌰𐌷𐌰
Hadza
Pronunciation
Noun
aha m (masc. plural ahabii, fem. ahako, fem. plural ahabee)
- tooth (fem. = molar, fem. pl. = adult teeth, masc. pl. = baby teeth)
- red velvet mite (Trombidiid)
Usage notes
The form after a determiner is aha.
Hawaiian
Etymology
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa. Cognates include Maori aha and Rapa Nui aha.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/, [ˈɐ.hə]
- Hyphenation: a‧ha
Pronoun
aha
- what?
- He aha kēlā? ― What is that?
References
- Pukui, Mary Kawena, Elbert, Samuel H. (1986) “aha”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press
Hungarian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈɒhɒ] or [ɒˈhɒ] (only as an exclamation)
- Rhymes: -hɒ
Interjection
aha
- (colloquial) aha (an exclamation of sudden understanding, realization, or recognition)
- Aha, itt a hiba! ― Aha, here’s the problem!
- (colloquial) uh-huh (used informally in place of a “yes”)
Further reading
- (exclamation of sudden understanding, realization, or recognition): aha in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
- (used informally in place of a “yes”): aha in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
- aha in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2024).
Kangean
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Pronunciation
Noun
aha
- human being
Maori
Etymology
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Oceanic *apa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *apa.
Pronoun
aha
- what (interrogative pronoun)
References
- “aha” in John C. Moorfield, Te Aka: Maori–English, English–Maori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, 2011, →ISBN.
Old Polish
Etymology
Natural expression. First attested in the second half of the 15th century.
Pronunciation
-
- IPA(key): (10th–15th CE) /a(ː)xa(ː)/
- IPA(key): (15th CE) /axa/, /ɒxɒ/
Interjection
aha
- (hapax legomenon, attested in Greater Poland) aha (showing surprise)
Descendants
- Polish: aha
- Silesian: aha
References
- Sławski, Franciszek (1958-1965) “aha”, in Jan Safarewicz, Andrzej Siudut, editors, Słownik etymologiczny języka polskiego [Etymological dictionary of the Polish language] (in Polish), Kraków: Towarzystwo Miłośników Języka Polskiego
- B. Sieradzka-Baziur, Ewa Deptuchowa, Joanna Duska, Mariusz Frodyma, Beata Hejmo, Dorota Janeczko, Katarzyna Jasińska, Krystyna Kajtoch, Joanna Kozioł, Marian Kucała, Dorota Mika, Gabriela Niemiec, Urszula Poprawska, Elżbieta Supranowicz, Ludwika Szelachowska-Winiarzowa, Zofia Wanicowa, Piotr Szpor, Bartłomiej Borek, editors (2011–2015), “aha”, in Słownik pojęciowy języka staropolskiego [Conceptual Dictionary of Old Polish] (in Polish), Kraków: IJP PAN, →ISBN
Old Saxon
Etymology
From Proto-West Germanic *ahu, from Proto-Germanic *ahwō (“waters, river”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂ (“water”).
Pronunciation
Noun
aha f
- water
- running water, river, stream
Declension
Pennsylvania German
Alternative forms
- a ha (used by The Comprehensive Pennsylvania German Dictionary)
Pronunciation
Etymology
From German aha.
Exclamation
aha
- aha, there, gotcha
For quotations using this term, see Citations:aha.
References
- Beam, C. R., Brown, J. R., & Trout, J. L. (2004). The Comprehensive Pennsylvania German Dictionary.
- Pennsylvania Dutch Dictionary. (n.d.). https://padutchdictionary.com/
Polish
Alternative forms
Etymology
Inherited from Old Polish aha.
Pronunciation
-
-
- Rhymes: -a
- Syllabification: a‧ha
Interjection
aha
- aha! (showing confirmation) [from 1546]
- aha! (showing understanding) [second half of the 15th century]
- aha! (showing that the speaker suddenly remembered something)
- (Middle Polish) ah! (showing pain) [17 c.]
References
Further reading
- aha in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
- aha in Polish dictionaries at PWN
- Zofia Stamirowska (1987-2024) “aha”, in Anna Basara, editor, Słownik gwar Ostródzkiego, Warmii i Mazur, volume 1, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, →ISBN, page 115
Rapa Nui
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian *hafa. Cognates include Hawaiian aha and Maori aha.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/
- Hyphenation: a‧ha
Pronoun
aha
- what?
Usage notes
- aha is always preceded by an article (either he or te).
References
- Veronica Du Feu (1996) Rapanui (Descriptive Grammars), Routledge, →ISBN, page 21
- Paulus Kieviet (2017) A grammar of Rapa Nui[2], Berlin: Language Science Press, →ISBN, page 404
Romanian
Interjection
aha
- obsolete form of a
References
- aha in Academia Română, Micul dicționar academic, ediția a II-a, Bucharest: Univers Enciclopedic, 2010. →ISBN
Silesian
Etymology
Inherited from Old Polish aha.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aˈxa/
-
- Rhymes: -a
- Syllabification: a‧ha
Interjection
aha
- aha! (showing confirmation)
- aha! (showing understanding)
- aha! (showing that the speaker suddenly remembered something)
Further reading
- aha in silling.org
- Aleksandra Wencel (2023) “aha”, in Dykcjůnôrz ślų̊sko-polski, page 10
Sotho
Etymology
From Proto-Bantu *-jáka, a variant of Proto-Bantu *-jíbaka.
Verb
aha
- to build
Tagalog
Alternative forms
Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish ajá.
Pronunciation
- (Standard Tagalog) IPA(key): /ʔaˈha/ [ʔɐˈha]
- Rhymes: -a
- Syllabification: a‧ha
Interjection
ahá (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜑ)
- aha!
Further reading
- “aha”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018
- Cuadrado Muñiz, Adolfo (1972) Hispanismos en el tagalo: diccionario de vocablos de origen español vigentes en esta lengua filipina, Madrid: Oficina de Educación Iberoamericana, page 19
Tahitian
Etymology
From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Oceanic *apa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *apa.
Pronoun
aha
- what (interrogative pronoun)
Ternate
Pronunciation
Noun
aha
- a sago plantation
References
- Rika Hayami-Allen (2001) A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh
Toba
Particle
aha
- yes
References
- María Belén Carpio, Marisa Censabella (2012) “Clauses as noun modifiers in Toba”, in Bernard Comrie, Zarina Estrada Fernández, editors, Relative Clauses in Languages of the Americas (in Toba), →ISBN
Yoruba
Pronunciation
Noun
ahá
- drinking calabash; a small cup carved out of a calabash used to drink palm wine and feed babies.
Source: wiktionary.org