Slang dictionary
mhm
[ m-hm ]
What does mhm mean?
Mhm is a version of mm-hmm, an interjection variously used to express agreement or make an acknowledgment, among other senses. Mhm is especially common in the casual writing of the internet and text-messaging.
Where does mhm come from?
Mm-hmm is recorded as early as 1934. As far as mhm is concerned on the internet, that’s harder to pin down, as is true of many internet terms. The first entry on Urban Dictionary for MHM dates back to 2004, suggesting it takes off with the rise of early chat applications like AOL Instant Messenger.
Mhm may have also emerged from the fact that typing yes—not to mention mm-hmm—in early text-messaging took nine clicks, with MHM only four.
Examples of mhm
Who uses mhm?
On social media and in text messages, mhm is a casual way to show agreement, express satisfaction, or otherwise acknowledge something.
Mhm that’s what I thought
— theoneandonlyabbybrown 🍬 (@itsabbbbby) September 5, 2018
Because mhm attempts to capture a verbalization, it may be used to mean similar-sounding interjections like hmm (puzzlement) or mmm (delight).
Mhm. I love the sweet smell of stress in the morning.
— Madyson Olivia Pellegrino (@madyson_olivia) September 5, 2018
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of mhm like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of mhm that will help our users expand their word mastery.