Heh

An interjection, typically written 'heh', expressing amusement, mild amusement, sarcastic agreement, or a general noncommittal reaction. The tone and context of 'heh' can vary widely, from a genuine chuckle to a dismissive or cynical response. It often signals a subtle shift in conversation, indicating that the speaker finds something slightly amusing or finds an observed situation a bit humorous or perhaps even absurd. Its brevity and versatility make it common in informal communication, particularly online and in text messages. This onomatopoeic sound attempts to capture a short, breathy sound of suppressed laughter or a skeptical reaction to information being delivered.

Heh meaning with examples

• "He said he's going to climb Mount Everest next week!" Sarah exclaimed. "Heh," Mark replied, raising an eyebrow, clearly doubting the veracity of the claim, finding his friends comment slightly amusing, and not taking it too seriously. He's heard similar claims too many times before, which is why his response was slightly condescending. Mark's use of "heh" highlighted his skepticism.
• During the movie, the main character stumbled over his shoelaces, landing flat on his face. "Heh," the teenager at the back murmured, stifling a giggle as he took another sip of his soda. "That's definitely going on the meme feed," he muttered under his breath. He found the situation amusing and worthy of future reference, but only gave a minor sign of reaction, instead of a large outpour of laughter.
• "So, you think you can fix this computer yourself?" the technician asked. "Heh," responded the inexperienced user, the sarcastic undertone evident in their voice. They understood that the task would likely require an expert. The response communicated a polite, yet clear lack of confidence in their own abilities. This use illustrates the potential for 'heh' to express a humorous self-awareness.
• After hearing a ridiculous excuse for being late, she just tilted her head slightly, and responded, "Heh." The subtle response conveyed her opinion that the excuse was not true, and also that she didn't have any real desire to engage in the conversation. Her quick response also indicated her lack of desire to make a fuss and also that it didn't warrant further discussion, showing that she wasn't buying it.