Is there a "you know" in non English languages?

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PlanetJosh

PlanetJosh

Golden Member
May 6, 2013
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The interjection "you know". You probably know what that is without me giving any examples in a sentence. But it shows up almost everywhere on tv, the net and out in public. Like news reporters saying "The valuation of this stock is, you know, going up and up." Or hearing people anywhere saying "that restaurant has the best, you know, overall menu." And on and on. The phrase or interjection annoys me a lot. But anyway on with the topic.

So I tried a Google search if other languages have a you know. And I couldn't really find an answer for the "you know" I'm asking about. Ticks me off, I ask a simple question on Google and can't get an answer. Which means I probably phrased the search entry incorrectly or used the wrong search engine. So I'm here. Is there a "you know" in other languages? I wondered if "tu sabes" (you know) would be it in Spanish but apparently not. Spanish has tu sabes but it's used more formally like "do you know how many people live in this city?"
 
brainhulk

brainhulk

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2007
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Nani?

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Platypus

Platypus

Lifer
Apr 26, 2001
31,046
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So, also, ja and sometimes naja are common German filler words in conversation
 
M

Majes

Golden Member
Apr 8, 2008
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Are there examples of people overusing "like" or something similar in other languages?
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,864
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Allora (Italian)

...I forget the one in Japanese. It was one of the ~4 japanese phrases that I learned (retained) after 2 years....but yeah I forgot it.

oh, I think it was "eh-to" or "eto" something like that. not sure how to "spell" it with English syllables.
 
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zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
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sdifox said:
I thought he was looking for that particular use of you know and not fillers?
Click to expand...

"you know" is basically synonymous with "used as a filler"

can't seem to find the article as freely available, but James Thurber tackled this back in the halcyon days of 1960

pwrites.princeton.edu

James Thurber on Fillers

James Thurber on Fillers There is nothing more vacuous in the context of spoken English than fillers – sounds and words that take the place of pauses and, if repeated often enough, are tantamount to vocal tics. "Uh" and "um" have as much meaning as the clearing of one's throat and can therefore...
pwrites.princeton.edu pwrites.princeton.edu
 
T

TheVrolok

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
24,254
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sdifox said:
I thought he was looking for that particular use of you know and not fillers?
Click to expand...
My interpretation was that he was looking for fillers more than literal translations.

Literally, Spanish would be "¿tú sabes?"
 
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nOOky

nOOky

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2004
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I don't know, but my wife says "you know"in about every sentence, and it just distracts from whatever she is really trying to say.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,864
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DigDog said:
Ye, we got them words too,

Capisc' ?
Click to expand...

but that actually means...sorta, "you know." he means filler words/expressions.
--expressions that are the same as "um" or "uh"

my Italian instructors were always "..Allora" this, and "Allora" that.
 
DigDog

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,659
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whether "you know" is filler or a question is contextual too. Capisc' (which originally meant "do you understand") is actually the end of a phrase in mobster italian. "we're gonna off that guy Girolamo, capisc". It's meant to mean "i have spoken" or some other assertion like that.
In a sense, it's no different from the canadian "eh" (which we also have in italy), the difference is that these words have cultural meanings which differ from .. culture to culture. So while a sicilian is assertive in his filler, a canadian may be pragmatic. the words they use to do so do not necessarily correlate.
This is quite interesting and allegedly correct: https://stuart-mcintyre.com/communication-patterns-around-the-world/
It's not a long read.
Different cultures chose to structure not just their communication, but the mental patterns which then lead to communication, differently. So it's not the linguistic meaning of the word, but the idea that it's representing, which is relevant.


funny extra bit: the word occhei (OK) has been fully assimilated in Italian. We use it with different contextual meanings as you would in english.
 
DigDog

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
14,659
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Londoner slang has the word INNIT crammed everywhere, which is short for "isn't it so", which was originally popularized as meaning "that is quite a statement you have made" and was what you would reply to someone talking to you; it then became "ain't it", which was meant to mean "i agree with you/i hear you" and now it's used by someone who is talking to enforce their point by implying that they are using common sense. Variations on the tone of voice impart variations on the core meaning.
 
zinfamous

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,864
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DigDog said:
Londoner slang has the word INNIT crammed everywhere, which is short for "isn't it so", which was originally popularized as meaning "that is quite a statement you have made" and was what you would reply to someone talking to you; it then became "ain't it", which was meant to mean "i agree with you/i hear you" and now it's used by someone who is talking to enforce their point by implying that they are using common sense. Variations on the tone of voice impart variations on the core meaning.
Click to expand...

that's Cockney. I love it when people say it, thought.

Ran into this old, perpetually Drunken cockney fellow over a couple of nights in Cannes, many years ago. He tossed in an "innit" about every 3 or 4 words, with constant shoulder jabs. super-excited dude.
 
pete6032

pete6032

Diamond Member
Dec 3, 2010
8,153
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In Spanish, "verdad" or "sabes" is an approximation of "you know?" "Pues" is more like using the word "well," like "pues, voy a la tienda" well, I'm going to the store.

www.fluentu.com

Spanish Filler Words to Sound More Natural | FluentU Spanish Blog

With Spanish filler words, you can add natural phrases to your conversations and give yourself time to think of a response. Click here to learn how to use 19 Spanish filler words like "pues...," "este..." and "¿sabes?" Not only will they buy you some time, but they will also help you sound more...
www.fluentu.com
 
T

TheVrolok

Lifer
Dec 11, 2000
24,254
4,092
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pete6032 said:
In Spanish, "verdad" or "sabes" is an approximation of "you know?" "Pues" is more like using the word "well," like "pues, voy a la tienda" well, I'm going to the store.

www.fluentu.com

Spanish Filler Words to Sound More Natural | FluentU Spanish Blog

With Spanish filler words, you can add natural phrases to your conversations and give yourself time to think of a response. Click here to learn how to use 19 Spanish filler words like "pues...," "este..." and "¿sabes?" Not only will they buy you some time, but they will also help you sound more...
www.fluentu.com
Click to expand...
Yeah, it's more literally "well," but it seems to be more used as a filler to the OPs question than either verdad or sabes, at least among my wife's family (South American).
 
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