An exclamation of understanding, realization, invention, or recognition.
An exclamation of surprise, exaltation, or contempt.
Derived terms
Translations
See also
ah
ha
eureka
Anagrams
aah
Czech
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [ˈaɦa]
Interjection
aha
aha, I see (expresion of understanding, realization, invention or recognition)
Noun
ahan (indeclinable)
(colloquial, obsolete) toilet
Synonyms:záchod, toaleta
Further reading
aha in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
aha in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
Esperanto
Pronunciation
IPA(key): [ˈaha]
Rhymes: -aha
Hyphenation: a‧ha
Interjection
aha
aha
Synonym:oho
Ewe
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /æhæ/
Noun
aha (pluralahawo)
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
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
ahaa
Anagrams
aah, haa
German
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ʔaˈha/
Rhymes: -aː
Interjection
aha
aha
Further reading
“aha” in Duden online
“aha” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
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 Maoriaha and Rapa Nuiaha.
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 Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
(used informally in place of a “yes”): aha in Bárczi, Géza and László Országh. A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára (‘The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’, abbr.: ÉrtSz.). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN
aha in Ittzés, Nóra (ed.). A magyar nyelv nagyszótára (‘A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language’). Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published A–ez as of 2024)
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
aha(showing surprise)
Descendants
Polish: aha
References
B. Sieradzka-Baziur, editor (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
IPA(key): /ˈɑha/
Noun
ahaf
water
running water, river, stream
Declension
Polish
Alternative forms
acha
Etymology
Inherited from Old Polishaha, ultimately a natural expression.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /aˈxa/
(Middle Polish) IPA(key): /ˈa.xɒ/, /ˈɒ.xɒ/
Rhymes: -axa
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
Rapa Nui
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian*hafa. Cognates include Hawaiianaha and Maoriaha.
Pronunciation
IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/
Hyphenation: a‧ha
Pronoun
aha
what?
Usage notes
aha is always preceded by an article (either he or te).
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
Sotho
Etymology
From Proto-Bantu*-jáka, a variant of Proto-Bantu*-jíbaka.
Verb
aha
to build
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
IPA(key): [ˈa.ha]
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
IPA(key): /ā.há/
Noun
ahá
drinking calabash; a small cup carved out of a calabash used to drink palm wine and feed babies.