Hello, I’m Kodak.
Japanese conversations often include short sounds such as えっと (etto), ええと (eeto), えーと (ēto), and あのう (anou).
They are commonly translated as “um,” “uh,” “well,” or “let me see.” However, they are not completely interchangeable.
えっと often shows that the speaker is searching their memory, calculating, or organizing what to say. あのう often shows that the speaker is choosing an appropriate expression with the listener in mind, hesitating before a delicate statement, or trying to get someone’s attention.
① what えっと (etto) and あのう (anou) mean
② why they are called Japanese fillers
③ the core difference between searching for information and preparing speech for a listener
④ how to pronounce and write each expression
⑤ when あのう means “excuse me”
⑥ whether they are polite or rude
⑦ how they differ from えっ, うーん, まあ, そのう, and すみません
⑧ how they are used in anime and natural conversation
Today’s Japanese expressions are えっと (etto) and あのう (anou)!
The simplest difference is:
えっと ⇒ “Let me think / let me search for the answer.”
あのう ⇒ “Let me find the right way to say this to you / excuse me.”
What Does えっと (Etto) Mean?
えっと is a filler used when the next word or answer does not come immediately and the speaker needs a moment to think.
⇒ Um…
⇒ Uh…
⇒ Let me see…
⇒ Let me think…
⇒ What was it again…?
A：誕生日はいつですか？
Tanjōbi wa itsu desu ka?
When is your birthday?B：えっと、五月二日です。
Etto, gogatsu futsuka desu.
Um, it’s May 2.
A：十二かける七は？
Jūni kakeru nana wa?
What is twelve times seven?B：えっと……八十四。
Etto… hachijūyon.
Let me see… eighty-four.
What Does あのう (Anou) Mean?
あのう, also written あのー or simply あの, is used to connect speech while the speaker hesitates or chooses the next expression.
It is also commonly used to get another person’s attention before a question, request, correction, or sensitive statement.
⇒ Um…
⇒ Well…
⇒ You see…
⇒ Excuse me…
⇒ I was wondering…
⇒ There is something I would like to say…
あのう、すみません。駅はどこですか？
Anou, sumimasen. Eki wa doko desu ka?
Excuse me, where is the station?
あのう、ちょっとお願いがあるんですが。
Anou, chotto onegai ga aru n desu ga.
Um, I have a small favor to ask.
あのう、その説明は少し違うと思います。
Anou, sono setsumei wa sukoshi chigau to omoimasu.
Well, I think that explanation is slightly incorrect.
Quick Answer: えっと vs あのう
| Expression | Core function | Typical situation | Common English |
|---|---|---|---|
| えっと | Searching or calculating | Remembering a name, date, answer, number, or next idea | um, let me see, let me think |
| あのう | Preparing language for a listener | Getting attention, choosing wording, making a delicate request or correction | um, well, excuse me, you see |
A useful memory rule is:
えっと looks inward toward the answer.
あのう looks outward toward the listener.
This is a tendency—not an absolute rule—because real conversations often involve both processes at the same time.
What Is a Filler Word?
Expressions such as えっと, あのう, うーん, and まあ are commonly called fillers.
Japanese fillers can help a speaker:
・search their memory
・calculate or reason
・plan the next sentence
・choose a softer or more appropriate expression
・signal hesitation
・get the listener’s attention
・show that the speaking turn is not finished
・soften a difficult request, correction, or refusal
The Core Image of えっと: Searching Your Mental Database
Linguistic research has treated ええと as a marker that appears while the speaker performs a demanding mental operation, such as searching memory or calculating.
↓
The answer is not immediately available
↓
The speaker searches memory, calculates, or organizes information
↓
えっと…… = “I am working on the answer.”
えっと、会議は何時からでしたっけ？
Etto, kaigi wa nanji kara deshita kke?
Um, what time did the meeting start again?
一人三千円だから、四人で……えっと、一万二千円です。
Hitori sanzen-en dakara, yonin de… etto, ichiman nisen-en desu.
It’s 3,000 yen per person, so for four people… let me see, 12,000 yen.
金曜日に、えっと、すみません、木曜日に発送しました。
Kin’yōbi ni, etto, sumimasen, mokuyōbi ni hassō shimashita.
We shipped it on Friday—um, sorry, on Thursday.
The Core Image of あのう: Preparing Words for the Listener
あのう often appears while the speaker searches for a name or edits an expression with the listener in mind.
↓
The wording may be difficult, delicate, or socially risky
↓
The speaker prepares the listener and searches for an appropriate expression
↓
あのう…… = “I need to say something; please give me a moment.”
あのう、すみません。これを試着してもいいですか？
Anou, sumimasen. Kore o shichaku shite mo ii desu ka?
Excuse me, may I try this on?
あのう、写真を撮っていただけませんか？
Anou, shashin o totte itadakemasen ka?
Excuse me, could you take a photo for me?
このデザインは、あのう、少し個性的すぎるかもしれません。
Kono dezain wa, anou, sukoshi koseiteki sugiru kamo shiremasen.
This design is, well, perhaps a little too distinctive.
えっと and あのう Can Overlap
Sometimes a speaker is searching for information and choosing socially appropriate wording at the same time. Therefore, both fillers may sound possible in the same sentence.
Um, excuse me. Is there a convenience store nearby?
⇒ The speaker may be organizing the question or feeling generally hesitant.あのう、すみません。この近くにコンビニはありますか？
Excuse me. Is there a convenience store nearby?
⇒ The speaker more clearly signals that they are addressing the listener and preparing a request.
Pronunciation and Writing
Spellings: えっと / ええと / えーと
Romaji: etto / eeto / ēto
Mora: え・っ・と / え・え・と / え・ー・とあのう
Spellings: あのう / あのー / あの
Romaji: anou / anō / anoo / ano
Mora: あ・の・う / あ・の・ー
The small っ in えっと creates a brief closure before と. The final う in あのう normally lengthens the o sound, so it is closer to a-no-o than “a-now.”
No kanji is normally used for either filler.
Do not confuse filler あの with the demonstrative used before a noun:
あの人 — that person
あの店 — that store
あの、質問があります。 — Um, I have a question.
Origin and History
Dictionaries record ええと as an interjection used when the next words do not immediately come to mind. An early written example appears in the comic-style work Ukiyodoko, published in the early nineteenth century.
あのう is also recorded as an interjection inserted at the beginning or middle of speech to connect to the next words. An early example appears in Ukiyoburo, another early-nineteenth-century work rich in spoken dialogue.
Historical caution:
These literary examples show that the fillers were already represented in spoken-style Japanese in the late Edo period.
They do not prove that the expressions were invented by those writers or first appeared in that century.
When Does あのう Mean “Excuse Me”?
あのう can function as an attention-getter when the listener has not yet entered the conversation.
あのう、すみません。東京駅はどちらですか？
Anou, sumimasen. Tōkyō-eki wa dochira desu ka?
Excuse me, which way is Tokyo Station?
あのう、これの大きいサイズはありますか？
Anou, kore no ōkii saizu wa arimasu ka?
Excuse me, do you have this in a larger size?
“I would like your attention.”
＋
すみません
“Sorry to bother you.”
＋
actual question or request
Are えっと and あのう Polite?
Neither expression is rude. Neither is an honorific by itself.
あのう can soften the beginning of a request, but politeness comes from the entire sentence.
あの、これ何？
Um, what is this?Neutral-polite:
あのう、これは何ですか？
Excuse me, what is this?
More respectful:
あのう、恐れ入りますが、こちらについて教えていただけますか？
Excuse me, but could you please tell me about this?
A brief えっと is normal even in polite conversation. Frequent fillers in an interview or presentation may make the speaker sound unprepared.
えっと vs えっ
Thinking filler
⇒ “Um… / Let me think…”えっ
Surprise, doubt, or request for repetition
⇒ “What?” / “Huh?” / “Really?”
A：会議は何時から？
What time is the meeting?B：えっと、二時から。
Um, it starts at two.
A：会議は朝六時からです。
The meeting starts at six in the morning.B：えっ？ 六時ですか？
What? Six o’clock?
えっと vs うーん
Searching for information or planning an answerうーん
Thinking, uncertainty, difficulty, dissatisfaction, or hesitation about a decision
A：電話番号を教えてください。
Please tell me your phone number.B：えっと、090の……。
Um, it’s 090…
A：この仕事、引き受けられますか？
Can you take this job?B：うーん、今週は少し難しいです。
Hmm, this week may be difficult.
あのう vs すみません
Gets attention gently or prepares a statementすみません
Apologizes, thanks, or politely attracts attention
あのう、すみません。ちょっと伺いたいんですが。
Anou, sumimasen. Chotto ukagaitai n desu ga.
Excuse me, I would like to ask something.
あのう vs あのね
Hesitant, neutral, or polite attention-getter
⇒ “Um / excuse me…”あのね
More personal or intimate attention-getter
⇒ “You know…” / “Listen…”
あのう、こちらにお名前をお願いします。
Excuse me, please write your name here.
あのね、今日学校で面白いことがあったの。
You know, something funny happened at school today.
えっと vs まあ
The speaker needs time to find or formulate an answer.まあ
The speaker softens a judgment, gives an approximate evaluation, or accepts something reluctantly.
A：参加者は何人ですか？
How many participants are there?B：えっと、三十二人です。
Um, thirty-two.
A：新しい映画、どうだった？
How was the new movie?B：まあ、悪くなかったよ。
Well, it wasn’t bad.
あのう vs そのう
そのう is another hesitation filler. It often appears when a speaker has difficulty stating something directly.
Broad filler used for attention, hesitation, requests, and expression choiceそのう
Often signals that the speaker is circling around something awkward or difficult to state
そのう……今回は参加できないんです。
Sonou… konkai wa sanka dekinai n desu.
Well… I won’t be able to participate this time.
How えっと and あのう Are Used in Anime
Um… who were you again?
⇒ Searching memoryえっと、ここをこうして……できた！
Let me see, do this here… got it!
⇒ Thinking through a procedure
あのう、先輩。少しお時間いいですか？
Um, Senpai, do you have a moment?
⇒ Nervous attention-getter
あの……ずっと好きでした。
Um… I’ve always liked you.
⇒ Hesitation before an emotionally risky confession
あのー、それ、私のなんですけど。
Um, that belongs to me.
⇒ Polite but awkward correction
Common Mistakes
1. Translating Every Filler as “Um”
Let me see… it’s eighty-four.あのう、駅はどこですか？
Excuse me, where is the station?
あの……実は、話したいことがあります。
Well… actually, there is something I want to discuss.
2. Using えっ When You Mean えっと
えっと means “I am thinking.” えっ means “I am surprised, confused, or asking you to repeat.”
3. Thinking あのう Is Automatically Polite
あのう can soften an opening, but it does not replace polite grammar.
4. Using Too Many Fillers
えっと、私は、あのう、昨日、えっと、駅で、あのう、友達に会って……。Clearer:
昨日、駅で友達に会いました。それで、一緒に食事をしました。
5. Assuming the Difference Is Absolute
The distinction between mental search and listener-oriented wording is useful, but it describes tendencies. Individual speakers and situations vary.
FAQ About えっと and あのう
What does etto mean in Japanese?
えっと is a filler meaning “um,” “let me see,” or “let me think.” It often signals that the speaker is searching memory, calculating, or organizing an answer.
What does anou mean in Japanese?
あのう is a filler meaning “um,” “well,” or “excuse me.” It often prepares the listener for a question, request, correction, or difficult statement.
What is the difference between etto and anou?
えっと tends to emphasize searching for information or performing a mental operation. あのう tends to emphasize choosing language for a listener, getting attention, or softening what comes next. The two can overlap.
Are etto and eeto the same?
えっと, ええと, and えーと are closely related filler forms.
Does anou mean “excuse me”?
It can function like “excuse me” when used to get someone’s attention before a question or request. It is not an apology by itself, so it is often followed by すみません.
Is anou polite?
It is not an honorific, but it can make the beginning of a request less abrupt. The level of politeness depends on the grammar and vocabulary that follow.
Is etto rude?
No. It is a normal spoken filler. Using it too frequently in formal speech may make you sound unprepared, but the expression itself is not rude.
What does etto mean in anime?
It usually means “um” or “let me think.” Anime uses it to show that a character is recalling information, organizing an explanation, confused, or nervous.
What does anou mean in anime?
It often means “um,” “excuse me,” or “well.” It is especially common before a shy request, confession, interruption, or correction.
What is the difference between anou and sumimasen?
あのう signals that you want to speak or are hesitating. すみません apologizes or politely acknowledges that you are interrupting or imposing on the listener.
Summary: The Meaning and Usage of えっと / あのう
Meaning: “um,” “let me see,” “let me think”
Core use: searching memory, calculating, organizing an answer, or correcting speech● あのう (anou)
Meaning: “um,” “well,” “excuse me”
Core use: getting attention, choosing an appropriate expression, softening a request, or introducing difficult information
● Core contrast
えっと looks toward the answer inside the speaker’s mind.
あのう looks toward the listener and the way the message should be delivered.
● Important caution
This is a tendency, not an absolute rule. Both fillers can appear in overlapping situations.
● Writing
えっと / ええと / えーと
あのう / あのー / あの
● Politeness
Neither filler is inherently rude. あのう can soften an approach, but it is not honorific language by itself.
Remember the two core images:
えっと……
“I am searching for the answer.”
あのう……
“I need to say something to you, and I am preparing the words.”
References
- Kotobank: ええと — dictionary definitions and an early written example.
- Kotobank: あのう — dictionary definition and an early written example.
- National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics: “それ、言語学が解決します” — introduction to fillers and the distinction between えーと and あのー.
- National Institute for Japanese Language and Linguistics: ニホンゴ探検2015 — explains that expressions such as えっと and あのー are fillers.
- Sadanobu & Takubo (1995), “The Monitoring Devices of Mental Operations in Discourse”.
- Bunkyo University: フィラー類と文系・理系の講義 — summary of the mental-search and language-editing analysis.
- JapanKnowledge: 「ええ（と）」「あの（う）」は大事なことば！ — discussion of fillers in dictionaries, literature, and natural speech.