English word origin

Etymology of meh

Popularized by the American television show The Simpsons; first used on the show in the episode titled "Sideshow Bob Roberts" (1994). Possibly ultimately from Yiddish מע (me, “so-so”). First attested in 1928, with usage

3 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗

In this entry · 3 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1

Original entry ↗

noun

A judgement marked by indifference; lack of impression.

adj

Mediocre; lackluster; unexceptional; uninspiring. · Apathetic; unenthusiastic.

intj

Expressing indifference or lack of enthusiasm.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "1": "en",
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      "expansion": ""
    },
    {
      "name": "m+",
      "args": {
        "1": "yi",
        "2": "מע",
        "3": "",
        "4": "so-so"
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    },
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      },
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    }
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    ],
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      "so-so"
    ]
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗

particle

Final question particle expressing skepticism.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

From Cantonese 咩 (me¹, final particle used to make doubtful yes–no questions).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Borrowed-form mention咩yue

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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        "1": "en",
        "2": "yue",
        "3": "咩",
        "pos": "final particle used to make doubtful yes–no questions"
      },
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    }
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗

intj

A bleating sound, as that of a sheep or goat.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

Onomatopoeic.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for meh →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger

Machine-source provenance

Source SHA-256: 5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run: 73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID: w-bWVo