# Why "heh" ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2004, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796 "2004-05-12T15:08:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796/21 "2004-05-13T07:52:20Z")
> [@gum](#): > > ‘Heh’ is too short. Who laughs like that? Or even chuckles like that? Most people, IMO. I do more often than I do anything that could require multiple syllables. Followed a close second by Heeeeeeeeeeee! Then hehe, heehee, heh heh, & Bwahahahaaa. It’s a short, sharp amused and/or cynical laugh. ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796/22 "2004-05-13T07:57:11Z")
I always figured it was an abbreviation for this: [http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1406/sounds.html](http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1406/sounds.html) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2004, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796/23 "2004-05-13T08:16:00Z")
Nice explanations! I think “heh” is useful as distinct from “ha” because it can have some darker connotations that the innocent “ha” doesn’t have. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796/24 "2004-05-14T19:05:26Z")
**Tengu** , Honest, I never do ‘heh’. I can’t do one syllable. \*\*ccwaterback, \*\* Thanks. 😃 [But he says ‘hehehe_he_he’, doesn’t he?] **Marley23** , Yes, I agree on that. That’s why I think ‘heh’ isn’t a way to describe you’re laughing. I’m answering all this because I just saw some posts in the Pit that actually made me go: “hahahaha”, but I’m too shy to post that. And: **“You made me spit my soda all over my keyboard/monitor”** doesn’t work for me either. I _never_ laugh that hard. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796/25 "2004-05-15T00:23:25Z")
> [@gum](#): > > …I’m answering all this because I just saw some posts in the Pit that actually made me go: “hahahaha”, but I’m too shy to post that… Too shy? This board is not a place to be shy. In fact, sometimes it actually is welcome to know that someone has read a post and actually has some sort of response. Criminey, half the time I think “Wow, I’ve posted something brilliant!” and, well, let’s say the silence is deafening… Now, responding like that to every post you think is funny might be a bit much. But once in awhile, it’s a nice response. > [@](#): > > …And: **“You made me spit my soda all over my keyboard/monitor”** doesn’t work for me either. I _never_ laugh that hard. :dubious: Done that, several times. I do. Finally learned to let myself relax and let out a good laugh. Thank gawd for continence and Kegels. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796/26 "2004-05-15T01:05:32Z")
I think the soda spitting is due to the fact that more often than not the person is taking a sip as they read the thing that is so funny to them. Ever encountered something funny unexpectedly, while taking a drink? I sometimes “heh”, it’s approximately the sound I make, and it does convey a mild, dry amusement. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-heh/244796.md?page=1)