aha
English
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]
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɑː
Interjection
aha
- An exclamation of understanding, realization, invention, or recognition.
- Aha! That will work.
- An exclamation of surprise, exaltation, or contempt.
- Aha! Now I've got you!
Derived terms
- aha effect
- aha experience
- aha moment
Translations
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Anagrams
Czech
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈaɦa]
Esperanto
Pronunciation
Audio: (file)
- IPA(key): [ˈaha]
- Rhymes: -aha
- Hyphenation: a‧ha
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
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
German
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʔaˈha/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -aː
Gothic
Hadza
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʔaɦa/
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
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/, [ˈɐ.hə]
- Hyphenation: a‧ha
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
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.
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.
Interjection
aha
- aha (showing surprise)
- 1916 [second half of the 15th century], Stanisław Słoński, editor, Psałterz puławski, Greater Poland, pages 69, 4:
- Odwroczcze szye wszystczy rychlo zapalayøcz szya, gysz my mowyø: aha, aha (qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge)!
- [Odwroćcie sie wszystcy rychło zapalając się, jiż mi mowią: aha, aha (qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge)!]
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/
Polish
Alternative forms
Etymology
Inherited from Old Polish aha, ultimately a natural expression.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /aˈxa/
- (Middle Polish) IPA(key): /ˈa.xɒ/, /ˈɒ.xɒ/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -axa
- Syllabification: a‧ha
Interjection
aha
References
- Maria Renata Mayenowa, Stanisław Rospond, Witold Taszycki, Stefan Hrabec, Władysław Kuraszkiewicz (2010-2023) “aha”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]
- Krystyna Siekierska (04.08.2009) “AHA”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]
Rapa Nui
Etymology
From Proto-Polynesian *hafa. Cognates include Hawaiian aha and Maori aha.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/
- Hyphenation: a‧ha
Romanian
References
- aha in Academia Română, Micul dicționar academic, ediția a II-a, Bucharest: Univers Enciclopedic, 2010. →ISBN
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.
Ternate
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈa.ha]
References
- Rika Hayami-Allen (2001) A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh
Toba
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