Hah
/hɑː/noun
An exclamation used to express surprise, triumph, scorn, or laughter.
Did you know?Interjections like hah are ancient vocal reflexes rather than neatly “invented” words, so their history is mostly about how English writers learned to spell a human burst of breath and laughter.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
English
hā
“An exclamation of surprise or laughter, written in various ways by scribes.”
Middle English
English
ha
“A cry of laughter, astonishment, or sudden feeling.”
16th–17th Century
English
hah
“A stronger written form of ha, often used to mark scorn, triumph, or loud laughter.”
Modern English
English
hah
“An exclamation expressing laughter, surprise, or disbelief.”