interjection

hein

right · huh

C’est un mot que l’on dit quand on n’a pas bien entendu ou compris ce que quelqu’un a dit.

Hein is a French interjection used primarily in spoken language. It serves various communicative functions depending on the context:

Meaning and Usage:

Request for Confirmation or Agreement
Similar to the English "right?", "huh?", or "isn't it?". It is often used at the end of a sentence to check if the listener agrees or is following:
- "Tu viens demain, hein?" — "You're coming tomorrow, right?"
Expression of Surprise or Asking for Repetition
It can express confusion, surprise, or be used when asking someone to repeat what they said, similar to "what?"
- "Hein ? Je n'ai pas compris." — "What? I didn't understand."

Parts

The word "hein" is a single syllable interjection. It does not have parts but is used as an informal verbal particle.

Synonyms

N'est-ce pas? — more formal way to ask for confirmation ("Isn't it?")
Comment ? — "What?" (asking to repeat)
Hein ? can sometimes be informal equivalent to "Quoi ?" in certain contexts

Antonyms

There are no direct antonyms for interjections like "hein," but polite/formal alternatives exist.

Summary:
"Hein" is an informal French interjection used to ask for confirmation, express surprise, or request repetition. It is mostly found in spoken language and has no formal written equivalent.