What Are Filler Words?

Filler words are the sounds and phrases we use to fill pauses while our brain catches up — um, uh, like, you know, so, actually, basically, and I mean. They are normal, but in meetings, pitches, and interviews they can make you sound less confident and less prepared.

Examples of Filler Words

Hesitation sounds (um, uh, er, ah, hmm), filler phrases (like, you know, I mean, sort of, kind of, basically, actually, literally, right), crutch words (so, well, anyway, okay, just, really), and trailing fillers (and stuff, or whatever, you know what I mean).

Why We Use Filler Words

We use fillers because speech is faster than thought. A filler buys a fraction of a second and signals we are not finished talking. Nervousness, unfamiliar topics, and a fast pace all push the rate up, which is why fillers spike in interviews and high-stakes presentations.

How to Reduce Filler Words

Measure the filler rate: fillers ÷ total words × 100. Under 2% sounds polished; above 5% distracts. The fastest fix is to replace fillers with a silent pause, slow your pace, and prepare your opening sentences. SpeakFlare counts your fillers automatically — run the free filler-word counter or 30-second analysis in your browser, no sign-up.

Learn more: Free Filler Word Counter, How to Stop Saying Um, What Is SpeakFlare?, and AI Speech Coach.