[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/er/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [E](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/e/) / er # er interjection (er — a hesitation sound); also abbreviation (ER, E.R.) «er» 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. «Er» is a sound people make when they are not sure what to say or are thinking, like «um»: «It's, er, somewhere here.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#m1) 2. (US, abbreviation) ER stands for «emergency room», the part of a hospital that treats urgent injuries and illness (UK: A&E). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#m2) 3. (UK, abbreviation) ER stands for «Elizabeth Regina», Latin for Queen Elizabeth, seen on postboxes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#m3) 4. «-er» is also a suffix that makes a person who does something (teacher) or a comparative (bigger). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#m4) 5. In old or country speech, 'er' is written for 'are', as in 'you er mine'. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#m5) ### In the lessons In stories and play scripts «er» shows a character is nervous, shy, unsure or lying: «Did you eat the cake?» «Er… no.» In speaking lessons pupils learn to use fewer «ers» and «ums» when presenting. In grammar lessons the suffix -er makes comparatives (taller) and nouns (singer). Phrases: er… um…, er, well. ### Examples - «Er, I think I forgot my homework,» said Sam. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x1) - He said «er» a lot because he was nervous. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x2) - «Where's my phone?» «Er… I haven't seen it.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x3) - Try not to say «er» between every sentence in your talk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x4) - The doctor in the ER fixed his broken arm. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x5) - The old postbox had «ER» on it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x6) - The suffix -er turns «fast» into «faster». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x7) - Add -er to «paint» to make «painter». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x8) - Sho ez you er settin' dar. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/#x9) ### Note «Er» is not a real word with a meaning; it is a filler sound and has no plural or forms. In British English it is pronounced like «uh» (the r is silent); Americans may write it as «uh». ER and E.R. in capitals are abbreviations. Do not confuse with «err», a formal verb meaning to make a mistake («to err is human»). ## In Jewish tradition In Genesis, Er is Judah's oldest son, who married Tamar and died because he was wicked. **Interpretation.** Tradition says Er was wicked and the Rabbis discuss his death, which led to the law of levirate marriage in the story of Tamar. ### Examples - And she conceived, and bore a son; and he called his name Er. (Torah GEN.38.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/#x1) - And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. (Torah GEN.38.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/#x2) - And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. (Torah GEN.38.7, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/#x3) - And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and He slew him. (Writings 1CH.2.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/#x4) - The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; which three were born unto him of Bath-shua the Canaanitess. (Writings 1CH.2.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/#x5) - The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Ladah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea; (Writings 1CH.4.21, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/#x6) ### Note «Er» is not a real word with a meaning; it is a filler sound and has no plural or forms. In British English it is pronounced like «uh» (the r is silent); Americans may write it as «uh». ER and E.R. in capitals are abbreviations. Do not confuse with «err», a formal verb meaning to make a mistake («to err is human»). ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «er» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/er/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«er» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/er.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «er» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/er/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«er» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/er.html) on Mova free.