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Ay vs Eh - What's the difference?

ay | eh | Alternative forms |

Eh is a alternative form of ay.



As interjections the difference between ay and eh

is that ay is ah! alas while eh is used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.

As adjectives the difference between ay and eh

is that ay is for an indefinite time while eh is of bad quality; mediocre; unremarkable.

As an adverb ay

is always; ever.

As a noun ay

is an alternative spelling of nodot=yes lang=en ("yes".

As a symbol eH is

symbol for redox potential (in volts).

ay

English

Interjection

(en interjection)
  • Ah! alas!
  • ("yes")
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
  • *:"Good morrow to thee, jolly fellow," quoth Robin, "thou seemest happy this merry morn."
  • *:"Ay , that am I," quoth the jolly Butcher, "and why should I not be so? Am I not hale in wind and limb? Have I not the bonniest lass in all Nottinghamshire? And lastly, am I not to be married to her on Thursday next in sweet Locksley Town?"
  • (question tag)

    • Adverb

    (-)
  • Always; ever.
  • * 1670 , John Barbour, The Acts and Life of the most victorious Conquerour Robert Bruce King of Scotland'', as cited in 1860, Thomas Corser, ''Collectanea Anglo-poetica , page 160
    • O he that hath ay lived free, [...]

    Alternative forms

    * aye

    Adjective

    (-)
  • For an indefinite time.

    • Synonyms

    * always * continually * forever

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • ("yes")
    • counting the ays and the noes in a vote

    See also

    *

    Anagrams

    * English two-letter words ----

    eh

    English

    (wikipedia eh)

    Alternative forms

    * ay (NZ)

    Interjection

    (en interjection)
  • (informal, UK, Australia) Used as a tag question, to emphasise what goes before or to request that the listener express an opinion about what has been said.
    • These hot dogs are pretty good, eh?
  • In isolation, a request for repetition or clarification of what has just been said. Compare what'', ''pardon .
  • (Canada) An interjection used to ascertain the continued attention of an individual addressed by the speaker
    • I went to the restaurant, eh , but my friends didn't show up.
  • Expressing apathy or lack of enthusiasm; meh.
    • - Do you feel like going out tonight?
    - Eh , I don't know.

    Usage notes

    In North America this term is stereotypically associated with Canada and some uses of it outside of Canada can convey that you are trying to sound (sarcastically) Canadian. However, it is in wide use in many other parts of the world, including the northern United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, and South Africa.

    Adjective

  • (informal, predicative only) Of bad quality; mediocre; unremarkable.
    • My French fries were eh .

    Anagrams

    * Canadian English English two-letter words ----