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# em

pronoun (informal spoken form of "them"); interjection (em = um); noun (em, a printing measure)

«em» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (slang, informal) A spoken short form of "them", often written 'em. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#m1)
2. (UK, Ireland) A sound people make when they pause or are unsure, like "um" or "erm". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#m2)
3. (printing) A unit of width equal to the size of the type; an em dash is a long dash. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#m3)

### In the lessons

In real speech and stories: "Give 'em here!" or "Em, I'm not sure". Shows casual talk or hesitation. In maths lessons it can appear in self-corrections: "em, no, it's 12". Phrases: get 'em, let 'em go, em dash.

### Examples

- Pick 'em up and put 'em away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x1)
- "What's the answer?" "Em... I think it's 24." [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x2)
- Let 'em play outside for a bit. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x3)
- I've got two sweets left, do you want 'em? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x4)
- Em, sorry, I forgot my homework. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x5)
- Use an em dash — like this — to add an aside. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x6)
- “Not one of 'em,” says she. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/#x7)

### Note

Do not use "'em" in formal writing; write "them". "Em" as a pause sound has no meaning; ignore it when reading a maths problem. Not to be confused with "M" the letter.

## In Jewish tradition

In real speech and stories: "Give 'em here!" or "Em, I'm not sure". Shows casual talk or hesitation. In maths lessons it can appear in self-corrections: "em, no, it's 12". Phrases: get 'em, let 'em go, em dash.

### Examples

- However, this is grammatically peculiar, as immot is usually only the construct plural of אֵם em 'mother', whose absolute plural is rather אִמָּהוֹת immahot. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/em/#x1)

### Note

Do not use "'em" in formal writing; write "them". "Em" as a pause sound has no meaning; ignore it when reading a maths problem. Not to be confused with "M" the letter.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «em» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/em/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«em» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/em.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «em» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/em/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«em» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/em.html) on Mova free.