I was wondering what is the name for the introductory "coughing" in English, i.e. when somebody clears their throat to start their utterance. For example:
"Ekhm… Welcome! How can I help you?"
Is "ekhm" the right way to spell such onomatopoeia? Are there any other ways to spell it?
Best Answer
In English, we would most commonly spell this utterance "Ahem." It is used to somewhat politely gain someone's attention.
It can be considered a hedge or filler, that is, a vocal delay that allows the speaker time to collect their thoughts while speaking.
I understood what you meant by "ekhm," but I have never seen it spelled that way. However, I imagine that the spelling of a word like this could be subject to regional differences.