Filler Words: Complete List, Examples, and How to Eliminate Them

Filler words are the verbal pauses — um, uh, like, you know, basically, literally — that sneak into our speech without us realizing it. Everyone uses them. The question is whether they're helping or hurting your communication.

This is the complete guide to filler words: what they are, why we use them, a full list of examples, and exactly how to reduce them when they matter most.

What Are Filler Words?

Filler words (also called discourse markers, speech disfluencies, or verbal fillers) are sounds, words, or phrases that fill pauses in speech without adding meaning. They signal that you're thinking, transitioning, or holding your place in a conversation.

Linguists distinguish between two types:

Filled pauses: Sounds like "um," "uh," "er," and "ah" that fill silence while you think.

Discourse markers: Words like "like," "you know," "basically," and "so" that technically have meaning but are used as verbal filler in casual speech.

Both are natural parts of human communication. Every language has them.

Complete Filler Words List

Common Filler Sounds - Um - Uh - Er - Ah - Hmm - Mm

Common Filler Words - Like - So - Well - Right - Okay - Actually - Basically - Literally - Honestly - Clearly - Obviously - Essentially - Technically

Common Filler Phrases - You know - You know what I mean - I mean - Sort of - Kind of - At the end of the day - To be honest - If you will - If that makes sense - As a matter of fact - For what it's worth - In a sense - Or something - And stuff - And things like that - Moving forward

Verbal Hedges (Softening Fillers) - Just - Maybe - Perhaps - I think - I feel like - I guess - Probably - Somewhat

Why Do We Use Filler Words?

Filler words aren't random — they serve real cognitive purposes:

1. Processing Time Your brain needs time to find the right word. "Um" and "uh" buy that time. Studies show people use more fillers when discussing complex or unfamiliar topics.

2. Turn-Holding In conversation, silence signals you're done talking. Fillers tell listeners "I'm not finished — don't interrupt." This is actually useful in dialogue.

3. Social Signaling "Like" and "you know" create connection and signal informality. They soften statements and make you sound less rigid. This is why they're more common in casual conversation.

4. Habit Many fillers become unconscious verbal habits. You don't choose to say "um" — it happens automatically because the neural pathway is well-worn.

5. Anxiety Nervousness increases filler word usage. When you're anxious, your working memory is partially occupied by worry, leaving fewer resources for speech planning.

Are Filler Words Always Bad?

No. Context matters enormously.

When Fillers Are Fine - **Casual conversation**: Natural, expected, humanizing - **Brainstorming sessions**: Show you're thinking out loud - **Interviews** (occasionally): A few fillers sound natural and authentic - **Teaching**: Can signal transitions and give students processing time

When Fillers Hurt You - **Formal presentations**: Undermine authority and perceived competence - **Job interviews** (excessive): Signal nervousness or lack of preparation - **Sales pitches**: Reduce persuasiveness and confidence perception - **Leadership communication**: Can weaken your message - **Podcasts and media**: Amplified and more noticeable in recordings

Research from the University of Michigan found that speakers who use excessive fillers are perceived as less credible, less prepared, and less intelligent — even when the content of their speech is identical.

How Many Filler Words Is Too Many?

Professional speakers average 1-2 filler words per minute. Casual conversation averages 5-8 per minute. If you're above 10 per minute in a presentation context, it's likely noticeable and distracting.

The goal isn't zero fillers — that would sound robotic. The goal is conscious control: using pauses intentionally instead of filling them unconsciously.

How to Stop Using Filler Words

Step 1: Become Aware You can't fix what you don't notice. Most people dramatically underestimate their filler word usage.

• Record yourself speaking for 2-3 minutes on any topic
• Listen back and count every filler word
• Note which fillers you use most (everyone has favorites)
• Track your count over time

Mic Buddy tracks your filler words automatically during practice sessions, showing you exactly which words you overuse and how your usage changes over time.

Step 2: Embrace the Pause The most powerful technique: replace fillers with silence.

When you feel an "um" coming, simply pause. Close your mouth. Take a breath. Then continue.

• Sounds confident and deliberate
• Gives your audience time to absorb your point
• Makes your next words feel more impactful
• Gives you time to think clearly

Step 3: Slow Down Fast speakers use more fillers because their mouth outruns their brain. Slowing your speaking pace by even 10% gives your brain enough lead time to eliminate most fillers.

Step 4: Prepare Your Transitions Most fillers cluster at transitions — between ideas, slides, or topics. Pre-plan your transition phrases: - Instead of "So, um, moving on to..." - Try: "Now let's look at..." or simply pause and start the next point

Step 5: Practice Out Loud Silent reading of your speech doesn't build filler-free neural pathways. You need to practice speaking out loud, ideally recording yourself and reviewing.

Step 6: Use Shorter Sentences Long, complex sentences create more opportunities for fillers. Break your thoughts into shorter, clearer statements. This automatically reduces filler word usage.

Step 7: Accept Imperfection Obsessing over fillers mid-speech makes them worse. The anxiety of trying not to say "um" creates more "ums." Practice in low-stakes situations, and in performance situations, focus on your message rather than your fillers.

Filler Words in Different Languages

Every language has filler words:

• **Spanish**: "este," "pues," "o sea," "bueno"
• **French**: "euh," "ben," "genre," "en fait"
• **German**: "äh," "also," "halt," "na ja"
• **Japanese**: "eto," "ano," "ma"
• **Mandarin**: "nage," "zhege," "ranhou"
• **Arabic**: "yani," "bas," "taiban"
• **Korean**: "eum," "geu," "geunyang"
• **Portuguese**: "tipo," "assim," "né"

This universality confirms that fillers are a fundamental part of human speech processing, not a deficiency.

Filler Words in Professional Contexts

Job Interviews Interviewers expect some fillers — you're thinking on your feet. But excessive fillers signal poor preparation. Practice answering common questions out loud beforehand.

Presentations This is where fillers matter most. Audiences notice them, and they compound: once a listener starts counting your "ums," they can't stop. Rehearse your opening and transitions thoroughly.

Meetings In collaborative discussions, fillers are largely invisible. In moments where you're presenting or reporting, reduce them. When someone asks your opinion directly, pause before answering rather than launching with "So, basically, like..."

Podcasts and Video Fillers are far more noticeable in recorded media. Even a moderate filler rate that sounds fine in person becomes distracting on a recording. Practice and edit where possible.

Tracking Your Progress

The key to reducing filler words is measurement. What gets measured gets improved.

• **Filler count per minute**: Your primary metric
• **Most common fillers**: Know your patterns
• **Context triggers**: When do you use more? (Nervousness, complex topics, transitions)
• **Trend over time**: Are you improving?

Mic Buddy gives you all of this automatically — record a practice session and get instant filler word analytics including which words you use most, where they cluster in your speech, and how your usage trends over weeks and months.

The Bottom Line

Filler words are a natural part of speech. The goal isn't to eliminate them completely — it's to gain conscious control so you can choose when to use them (casual conversation) and when to replace them with powerful pauses (presentations, interviews, important conversations).

Start by recording yourself, counting your fillers, and practicing the pause. With consistent practice, you'll notice a dramatic improvement in how confident and polished you sound.