Meh, the internet expression signifying mediocrity or indifference is to become an officially recognized word.
Meh will be added to the Collins English Dictionary in its 30th edition to be published in 2009. Meh was submitted to the dictionary by Erin Whyte, from Nottingham, UK who defined it as “an expression of utter boredom or an indication of how little you care for an idea”. The dictionary will say that meh can be used as an interjection to suggest indifference or boredom – or as an adjective to say something is mediocre or a person is unimpressed.
The Times quotes Cormac McKeown, head of content at Collins Dictionaries, saying that
“This is a new interjection from the US that seems to have inveigled its way into common speech over here. It was actually spelt out in The Simpsons, when Homer is trying to prise the kids away from the TV with a suggestion for a day trip. They both just reply ‘meh’ and keep watching TV; he asks again and Lisa says, ‘We said MEH! – MEH, meh!’
“Internet and e-mail are playing a big part in formalising the spellings of vocal interjections like these. Other examples would be hmm and heh, which are both now ubiquitous online and in e-mails. People are increasingly writing in a register somewhere in between spoken and written English.”
Technically this is a recognition of Meh in UK English, not US English, but hopefully dictionaries across the pond will follow the lead. Or may be not. Meh.
