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aha

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Translingual

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Etymology

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Clipping of English Ahanta.

Symbol

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aha

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Ahanta.

See also

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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From Middle English a ha, aha, natural expression. Equivalent to ah + ha!.

Pronunciation

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Interjection

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aha

  1. An exclamation of understanding, realization, invention, or recognition.
    Aha! That will work.
  2. An exclamation of surprise, exaltation, or contempt.
    Aha! Now I've got you!

Derived terms

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Translations

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See also

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Anagrams

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Czech

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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aha

  1. aha, I see (expression of understanding, realization, invention or recognition)

Noun

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aha n (indeclinable)

  1. (colloquial, obsolete) toilet
    Synonyms: záchod, toaleta

Further reading

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Esperanto

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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aha

  1. aha
    Synonym: oho

Further reading

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Ewe

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Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) Compare Yoruba ahá (“traditional calabash used to drink palm wine”).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /à.hà/, [à.ʁà ~ à.ʕà ~ à.ɦà]
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

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àhà (definite singular àhà lá or àhàà, plural àhàwó, definite plural àhààwó)

  1. alcoholic beverage, liquor
  2. (specifically) palm wine
    Synonym: deha
  3. (by extension) any non-alcoholic drink or beverage

Derived terms

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References

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  • Westermann, Dietrich Verfasser (1905), “aha”, in Wörterbuch der Ewe-Sprache [Dictionary of the Ewe language]‎[1] (in German), Berlin: Dietrich Reimer, section I, pages 210-8
  • Dzablu-Kumah, Simon Wellington (2015), Ulrike Claudi, Johannes Ayao Ossey, editors, Basic Ewe for Foreign Students‎[2], 2nd edition, Cologne: Universität zu Köln Institut für Afrikanistik, page 157
  • Jim-Fugar, Dr. M.K.N.; Jim-Fugar, Nicholine (2017), “aha”, in Nuseline's Ewe-English Dictionary, 1st edition, Togo: Independently published, →ISBN, page 16

Finnish

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Etymology

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Like ah (to which it is somehow related), tracing an exact origin is impossible. Probably ultimately a natural expression.

Direct analogs exist in Swedish and beyond: aha, hå.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈɑhɑ(ˣ)/, [ˈɑ̝ɦɑ̝(ʔ)]
  • Rhymes: -ɑhɑ
  • Syllabification(key): a‧ha
  • Hyphenation(key): aha

Interjection

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aha

  1. uh-huh (indicates that the speaker agrees or is simply still listening)

Usage notes

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Depending on the context and intonation (especially with rising intonation), the interjection may instead be interpreted as dismissing or disagreeing with an opinion.

See also

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Anagrams

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German

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Pronunciation

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Interjection

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aha

  1. aha

Further reading

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  • “aha” in Duden online
  • “aha”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[3] (in German)

Gothic

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Romanization

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aha

  1. romanization of 𐌰𐌷𐌰

Hadza

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Pronunciation

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Noun

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aha m (masc. plural ahabii, fem. ahako, fem. plural ahabee)

  1. tooth (fem. = molar, fem. pl. = adult teeth, masc. pl. = baby teeth)
  2. red velvet mite (Trombidiid)

Usage notes

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The form after a determiner is aha.

Hawaiian

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Etymology

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From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Polynesian *hafa,[1] from Proto-Central Pacific *ava, from Proto-Oceanic *apa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *apa. Cognates include Māori aha and Rapa Nui aha.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/, [ˈɐ.hə]
  • Hyphenation: a‧ha

Pronoun

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aha

  1. what?
    He aha kēlā? ― What is that?

References

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  1. ^ Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “HAFA.A”, in “POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online”, in Oceanic Linguistics, volume 50, number 2, pages 551–9
  • Pukui, Mary Kawena; Elbert, Samuel H. (1986), “aha”, in Hawaiian Dictionary, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, →ISBN, pages 4–5

Hungarian

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈɒhɒ] or [ɒˈhɒ] (only as an exclamation)
  • Rhymes: -hɒ
  • Hyphenation: aha
  • Syllabification: a‧ha

Interjection

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aha

  1. (colloquial) aha (an exclamation of sudden understanding, realization, or recognition)
    Aha, itt a hiba! ― Aha, here’s the problem!
  2. (colloquial) uh-huh (used informally in place of a “yes”)

Further reading

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  • (exclamation of sudden understanding, realization, or recognition): aha in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
  • (used informally in place of a “yes”): aha in Géza Bárczi, László Országh, et al., editors, A magyar nyelv értelmező szótára [The Explanatory Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (ÉrtSz.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 1959–1962. Fifth ed., 1992: →ISBN.
  • aha in Nóra Ittzés, editor, A magyar nyelv nagyszótára [A Comprehensive Dictionary of the Hungarian Language] (Nszt.), Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó, 2006–2031 (work in progress; published a–ez as of 2026).

Kangean

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Etymology

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(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Pronunciation

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  • Hyphenation: a‧ha

Noun

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aha

  1. human being

Ma'di

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Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [àhá]
  • Hyphenation: a‧ha

Interjection

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ãhá

  1. Used to express agreement: aha, mhm

References

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  • Mairi Blackings; Nigel Fabb (2003), A Grammar of Ma'di, New York: Mouton de Gruyter, page 708

Māori

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Etymology

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From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Polynesian *hafa,[1] from Proto-Central Pacific *ava, from Proto-Oceanic *apa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *apa. Cognates include Hawaiian aha and Rapa Nui aha.

Pronunciation

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Pronoun

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aha

  1. what (interrogative pronoun)
    He aha tēnei?
    What is this?
  2. what kind of (interrogative pronoun)
    He hōiho aha tōna?
    What kind of horse does she have?
  3. anything, (with negation) nothing

Verb

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aha (passive ahatia)

  1. to do what, something (interrogative verb)
    Me aha au?
    What should I do?
    I ahatia koe?
    What happened to you?
    (literally, “What was done [to] you?”)

References

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  1. ^ Ross Clark and Simon J. Greenhill, editors (2011), “HAFA.A”, in “POLLEX-Online: The Polynesian Lexicon Project Online”, in Oceanic Linguistics, volume 50, number 2, pages 551–9
  • John C. Moorfield (2011), “aha”, in Te Aka: Māori–English, English–Māori Dictionary and Index, 3rd edition, Longman/Pearson Education New Zealand, →ISBN

Norwegian Bokmål

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Etymology

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An onomatopoeic, natural expression; compare ha (“ha, ah”).

Compare the parallel forms Norwegian Nynorsk aha, Danish aha, Swedish aha, German aha and English aha.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /aˈhaː/, [aˈhaː]
  • Rhymes: -aː
  • Hyphenation: a‧ha

Interjection

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aha

  1. aha; an exclamation expressing surprise, or sudden understanding or realization
    Aha, nå skjønner jeg hva du mener! ― Aha, now I understand what you mean!
    Aha, er det der du har gjemt nøkkelen? ― Aha, so that's where you've hidden the key?
    • 1874, Henrik Ibsen, Peer Gynt, page 249:
      aha; der er en som skal himle?
      Aha; someone's going to roll their eyes?
    • 1881, Henrik Ibsen, Gengangere, page 44:
      aha, der har vi det altså
      Aha, so there we have it.
    • 1993, Tor Ulven, Avløsning, page 9:
      et plutselig aha som åpner for noe helt nytt og utenkt
      a sudden aha that opens up something entirely new and unthought-of
    • 1997, Jo Nesbø, Flaggermusmannen:
      aha, dere sitter her og planlegger Live Aid II
      Aha, you're sitting here planning Live Aid II.
    • 2026, Erik Fosnes Hansen, Om natten er jeg i Kina, page 32:
      han snakket om renessansen og slikt, hun lyttet oppmerksomt, men sa bare skjønner og aha
      he talked about the Renaissance and such, she listened attentively, but only said “I see” and “aha”

Derived terms

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See also

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  • åhå, ahå (“interjection expressing surprise, realization, etc.”)

References

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Old Polish

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Etymology

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    Natural expression. First attested in the second half of the 15th century.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): (10th–15th CE) /a(ː)xa(ː)/
    • IPA(key): (15th CE) /axa/, /ɒxɒ/

    Interjection

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    aha

    1. (hapax legomenon, attested in Greater Poland) aha (showing surprise)
      • 1916 [second half of the 15th century], Stanisław Słoński, editor, Psałterz puławski‎scan transliteration, transcription, numbers 69, 4, Greater Poland:
        Odwroczcze szye wszystczy rychlo zapalayøcz szya, gysz my mowyø: aha, aha (qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge)!
        [Odwroćcie sie wszystcy rychło zapalając się, jiż mi mowią: aha, aha (qui dicunt mihi: Euge, euge)!]

    Descendants

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    • Polish: aha
    • Silesian: aha

    References

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    Old Saxon

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    Etymology

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    From Proto-West Germanic *ahu, from Proto-Germanic *ahwō (“waters, river”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ekʷeh₂ (“water”).

    Pronunciation

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    Noun

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    aha f

    1. water
    2. running water, river, stream

    Declension

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    aha (feminine a-stem)
    singular plural
    nominative aha aha
    accusative aha aha
    genitive ahō ahanō
    dative ahu ahum
    instrumental — —

    Pennsylvania German

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    Alternative forms

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    • a ha (used by The Comprehensive Pennsylvania German Dictionary)

    Etymology

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    From German aha.

    Pronunciation

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    Interjection

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    aha

    1. aha, there, gotcha
      • 2004, C. Richard Baum, Joshua R. Brown, editors, The Comprehensive Pennsylvania German Dictionary, volume 1, 219 Mill Road, Morgantown, PA 19543-9516: Masthof Press, →ISBN, page 1:
        Aha, ich hab dich gsehne!
        There, I saw you.

    References

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    Polish

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    Alternative forms

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    Etymology

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      Inherited from Old Polish aha.

      Pronunciation

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      • Audio 1:(file)
      • Audio 2:(file)
      • Rhymes: -a
      • Syllabification: a‧ha

      Interjection

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      aha

      1. aha! (showing confirmation) [from 1546][1]
      2. aha! (showing understanding) [second half of the 15th century][2]
      3. aha! (showing that the speaker suddenly remembered something)
      4. (Middle Polish) ah! (showing pain) [17 c.][3]

      References

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      1. ^ Maria Renata Mayenowa, et al., editors (2010-2023), “aha”, in Słownik Polszczyzny XVI Wieku [A Dictionary of 16th Century Polish]
      2. ^ S. Urbańczyk, editor (1953–2002), “aha”, in Słownik staropolski (in Polish), volumes 1–11, Wrocław, Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Łódź: Polish Academy of Sciences
      3. ^ Krystyna Siekierska (04.08.2009), “AHA”, in Elektroniczny Słownik Języka Polskiego XVII i XVIII Wieku [Electronic Dictionary of the Polish Language of the XVII and XVIII Century]

      Further reading

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      • “aha”, in Wielki słownik języka polskiego‎[4] (in Polish), Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
      • “aha”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[5] (in Polish)
      • Zofia Stamirowska (1987-2024), “aha”, in Anna Basara, editor, Słownik gwar Ostródzkiego, Warmii i Mazur, volume 1, Zakład Narodowy im. Ossolińskich Wydawnictwo Polskiej Akademii Nauk, →ISBN, page 115

      Rapa Nui

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      Etymology

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      From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Polynesian *hafa, from Proto-Oceanic *apa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *apa. Cognates include Hawaiian aha and Māori aha.

      Pronunciation

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      • IPA(key): /ˈa.ha/
      • Hyphenation: a‧ha

      Pronoun

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      aha

      1. what?

      Usage notes

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      • aha is always preceded by an article (either he or te).

      References

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      • Veronica Du Feu (1996), Rapanui (Descriptive Grammars), Routledge, →ISBN, page 21
      • Paulus Kieviet (2017), A grammar of Rapa Nui‎[6], Berlin: Language Science Press, →ISBN, page 404

      Romanian

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      Interjection

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      aha

      1. obsolete form of a

      References

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      • aha in Academia Română, Micul dicționar academic, ediția a II-a, Bucharest: Univers Enciclopedic, 2010. →ISBN

      Silesian

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      Etymology

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        Inherited from Old Polish aha.

        Pronunciation

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        • IPA(key): /aˈxa/
        • Audio:(file)
        • Rhymes: -a
        • Syllabification: a‧ha

        Interjection

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        aha

        1. aha! (showing confirmation)
        2. aha! (showing understanding)
        3. aha! (showing that the speaker suddenly remembered something)

        Further reading

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        Sotho

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        Etymology

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        From Proto-Bantu *-jáka, a variant of Proto-Bantu *-jíbaka.

        Verb

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        aha

        1. to build

        Tagalog

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        Alternative forms

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        Etymology 1

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          Borrowed from Spanish ajá.

          Pronunciation

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          Interjection

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          ahá (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜑ)

          1. aha!
            Aha! Nauunawaan ko na kung bakit ganiyan ang ikinikilos mo.
            Aha! I now understand why you act that way.

          Etymology 2

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            Pronunciation

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            Noun

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            ahà (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜑ) (obsolete)

            1. idea; thought; conception; something in mind
              Synonyms: idea, kaisipan, akala, pakana, konsepto, haraya
            2. intent; plan; purpose
              Synonyms: akala, balak, layunin, hangarin, banta
            3. supposition; conjecture; suspicion
              Synonyms: akala, hinala
              Aha ko'y hindi mangyayari iyan.
              I thought that wouldn't happen.
              (literally, “My thought is that wouldn't happen.”)
            Derived terms
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            See also
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            Further reading

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            Tahitian

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            Etymology

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            From Proto-Nuclear Polynesian *afa, from Proto-Polynesian *hafa, from Proto-Oceanic *apa, from Proto-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Central-Eastern Malayo-Polynesian *apa, from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *apa. Cognates include Hawaiian aha and Māori aha.

            Pronoun

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            aha

            1. what (interrogative pronoun)

            References

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            • Lemaître, Yves (1995), Lexique du tahitien contemporain [Current Tahitian lexicon]‎[9] (in French), Paris: Éditions de l'Orstom, →ISBN, page 28

            Ternate

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            Pronunciation

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            Noun

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            aha

            1. a sago plantation

            References

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            • Rika Hayami-Allen (2001), A descriptive study of the language of Ternate, the northern Moluccas, Indonesia, University of Pittsburgh

            Toba

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            Particle

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            aha

            1. yes

            References

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            • María Belén Carpio; Marisa Censabella (2012), “Clauses as noun modifiers in Toba”, in Bernard Comrie, Zarina Estrada Fernández, editors, Relative Clauses in Languages of the Americas (in Toba), →ISBN

            Tooro

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            Pronunciation

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            Pronoun

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            aha (interrogative)

            1. class 16 of -ha: what

            Adverb

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            aha (interrogative)

            1. where, at which place
              Synonym: nkaha

            References

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            • Kaji, Shigeki (2007), A Rutooro Vocabulary‎[10], Tokyo: Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), →ISBN, page 171

            Yoruba

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            Ahá

            Pronunciation

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            Noun

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            ahá

            1. drinking calabash; a small cup carved out of a calabash used to drink palm wine and feed babies.