Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

blah

/blɑː/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.88 in modern English

Syllables: blah
IPA: /blɑː/

9

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Nonsense; drivel; idle, meaningless talk.

Informal; Uncountable

noun

A general or ambiguous feeling of discomfort, dissatisfaction, uneasiness, boredom, mild depression, etc.

Countable; Informal; Uncountable

noun

A fool, an idiot.

Countable; Derogatory; Informal; Uncountable

adj

Dull; uninteresting; insipid.

Informal

adj

Low in spirit or health; down.

Informal

intj

An expression of mild frustration.

intj

Imitative of idle, meaningless talk; used sometimes in a slightly derogatory manner to mock or downplay another's words, or to show disinterest in a diatribe, rant, instructions, unsolicited advice, parenting, etc. Also used when recalling and retelling another's words, as a substitute for the portions of the speech deemed irrelevant.

intj

Representing the sound of vomiting.

Example Sentences

"Well, the new restaurant seems nice, but their menu is a little blah."
"He was struck by how much pleasure they seemed to take in their daytime lives, how blah their night work was by contrast, how altogether meaningless; […]"
"[…] although the show deliberately showcases various luxury goods […], the overall ambience is extraordinarily bare of style and beauty, offering instead a world of blah décor, undistinguished fashions and cavernous homes that just look like overpriced McMansions."
"I decided to go exercise rather than sit around all day feeling blah."
"Blah! Why can't I get this computer to work!"
"Yeah, yeah, blah blah blah, Mom, you said this all yesterday."

Etymology

* Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”), of which the word barbarian derives from. * Adjective sense “bland, dull” (1919), perhaps influenced by French blasé (“bored, indifferent”). * The blahs (“boredom, mild depression”) first attested 1969; probably a blend of the blues + blah (adjective). * Also may be connected with bleat

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /blɑː/

Usage

Inflected Forms

blahs (plural) bla (alternative) blaa (alternative) more blah (comparative) most blah (superlative) blahs (present, singular) blahing (participle, present) blahed (participle, past) blahed (past)

Derived Forms

blahg

Frequently Paired Words

barbarian rhubarb

Synonyms

bosh bombast rubbish absurdity all my eye all my eye and Betty Martin apple grease applesauce bafflegab balderdash balls baloney

Rhymes With

la ya ma ah ha da raw pa na nah sa ha-ha

Questions

How do you pronounce blah?: The recorded pronunciation is /blɑː/.
What does blah mean?: Nonsense; drivel; idle, meaningless talk.
Where does blah come from?: * Sense “Idle, meaningless talk” (1940), probably imitative or echoic in origin. Compare Ancient Greek βαρ-βαρ (bar-bar, “unintelligible sounds”), of which the word barbarian derives from. * Adjective sense “bland, dull” (1919), perhaps influenced by French blasé (“bored, indifferent”). * The blahs (“boredom, mild depression”) first attested 1969; probably a blend of the blues + blah (adjective). * Also may be connected with bleat

How to pronounce blah

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “blah”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/blɑː/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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Repeat and practice — Say “blah” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.