It has come to the attention of this august institution that there is a dichotomy present in the world today; specifically, Dopers have different opinions on which three-letter sound is applicable in what situation. ‘feh’ seems to be prevalent in the Chicago area, while ‘enh’ and ‘meh’ have been sighted in Seattle, Boston, and the upper Midwest. It is the goal of this researcher to determine the meaning inherent in these three statements, and evaluate the sociological situations that may call for their use. All models are eighteen years of age or older.
To the untrained eye, it may appear that enh, meh, and feh are interchangeable. This is clearly incorrect. While they all contain a certain element of dismissiveness, it is necessary to understand the finer points in order to successfully integrate them into modern conversation. With practice and a detailed usage guide, it should be relatively simple to comprehend. Please, no autographs. Note that the speaker’s state of mind is a critical factor in determining which word to use.
We shall begin with ‘meh’, the most neutral of the statements. ‘meh’ is best stated with a half-shrug, and hands turned upwards in a gesture of futility. Often, the speaker’s head will incline in the direction of the shrugging shoulder. This word is seen often as a response to a question or statement, in which the answering party has no position, cares little for the topic at hand, or wishes to continue the conversation without halting to discuss the current topic. For example, a passenger in a car may ask the driver, “What radio station should we listen to?” If the driver responds with a shrugging “meh”, the passenger may feel free to search through the stations to find enjoyable music. Similarly, if two people are discussing Italian culture over drinks, ‘meh’ may be an appropriate response to “Giovanni Bruno – good or bad?” if the respondent has limited knowledge of Bruno’s life.
(NB: in no way does a ‘meh’ restrain the speaker from further opinions on the matter. If the passenger in the car turns the radio to a country music station, the ‘meh’ may become an ‘enh’ or a ‘feh’. See below for an explanation on the morphing capabilities of these words.)
To continue to ‘enh’, we must note that it is the bastard stepchild of ‘meh’. Often seen in similar situations, ‘enh’ is a more dismissive statement, although it retains the inherent futility of ‘meh’. Usually, the speaker’s body language is similar to the above description - a halfhearted shrug, sometimes a grimace or scowl. If the passenger in the above situation, while turning the radio dial, says “Hey, how about some country?”, the driver would be well behooved to reply, ‘enh’. (It has been observed that ‘enh’ occasionally carries double duty, and masquerades as a ‘meh’ in situations that reflect no dismissive attitudes. Not always is there a negative connotation to an ‘enh’.)
‘feh’ is but a short step from ‘enh’. The scowl of disapproval is omnipresent, and the statement is delivered far more forcefully. While ‘meh’ is best described as ‘uninterested’, and ‘enh’ is a polite way of saying expressing mild disagreement, ‘feh’ is unabashedly hostile in its disageement. To continue our car example, if the passenger stopped at a country station and expressed happiness at hearing “Achy Breaky Heart”, the driver’s vehement response of ‘FEH’ is understandable.
Despite this apparent clear-cut division of labor between the three expressions, there are cultural and geographical differences in usage. While this researcher has an avowed interest in conclusive research into the nature of these and other phonemes, funding has become an issue, and unless our society as a whole agrees that this is a worthwhile pursuit, it is admittedly a possibility that the door will be shut on further relevations into this fascinating field.
But, really, meh. What can you do.
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