interjection

An interjection is a word or phrase that expresses something in a sudden or exclamatory way, especially an emotion. Yikes, uh-oh, ugh, oh boy, and ouch are common examples of interjections.

In grammar, interjections are considered one of the parts of speech (types of words categorized by function, like nouns and verbs and adjectives).

Interjection is the noun form of the verb interject, which most commonly means to interrupt or insert a comment. Interjection can also be used to mean the act or instance of doing so, as in Can I make an interjection?

Example: There was a chorus of angry interjections when the people in the audience heard that their taxes would be going up.

Use of the word interjection in English actually precedes the use of interject. The first records of interjection come from the 1400s, but interject isn’t recorded until the late 1500s. (Of course, interjections themselves have been used for far longer than that.) Interject comes from the Latin interjicere, meaning “to throw between,” from inter–, “between,” and jacere, “to throw.”

A lot of interjections express feelings, like surprise (whoa, wow), disgust (ew, yuck, ugh), frustration (good grief), or excitement (yay, oh boy). Some interjections express requests or demands, like shh, hush, and ahem. Some indicate pain (ouch) or disappointment or dismay (d’oh). Other interjections are used to react to a realization or something someone has said, like aha, eureka, bingo, and duh. Still others are used to get someone’s attention, like hey and yo.

In grammar, interjections usually stand alone, meaning they are often separate from a sentence, as in Ouch! I stubbed my toe. That’s because they express something all by themselves—they don’t need nouns or verbs to complete the thought.

In more general terms, an interjection is a comment inserted into an ongoing discussion. An interjection can be an interruption, but interjections are a normal part of conversation.

What are some other forms of interjection?

• interject (verb)
• interjectional (adjective)
• interjectural (adjective)
• interjectionally (adverb)
• interjectory (adjective)
• interjectionalize (verb)

What are some synonyms for interjection?

• exclamation

What are some words that share a root or word element with interjection? 

• object
• trajectory
• projectile

What are some words that often get used in discussing interjection?

• word
• phrase
• shout
• remark
• comment
• emotion
• sudden

Even if they don’t know they’re called interjections, people use interjections all the time to express all kinds of different things.

I can't decide what my favorite interjection is: humph, whoops or yowza. If only I could have three favorites.

— Gregg Lopez (@gluvox) December 8, 2012

Can anyone explain to me why so many interjections I use gender-neutrally are intrinsically male? "Man!" "Dude!" "Oh boy!" "Guys!"

Like why interjections?? Why so much implicit gender?? Why???

— Aimee Lucido (@AimeeLucido) December 15, 2017

I've done that thing in a meeting where you make an interjection & people nod sagely while you are talking & subsequently make eye contact with you and smile.

I'm peak adulting now. It can only be a matter of time before I say 'As I said before' & use phrases like 'ipso facto'.

— Graham Peacock (@revgpp) October 29, 2019

Which of the following words is NOT an interjection?

A. yo
B. yay
C. yellow
D. yahoo