The researchers discuss the question whether “huh” is a word or just a grunt in the linked paper. (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/jou

The researchers discuss the question whether “huh” is a word or just a grunt in the linked paper. (https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0078273&type=printable https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/jo...): > Huh? exhibits linguistic conventions that speakers need to learn in order to use the form properly. A learner of Spanish has to know that repair is initiated with the mid front unrounded vowel ‘‘e8’’, a learner of Cha’palaa has to know that the form is more like ‘‘aQ’’ with falling intonation, and a learner of Dutch has to know that a glottal fricative at onset is common: ‘‘h38’’. Its acquisition follows a normal trajectory, at least in American English-speaking children [37]. Second language learners’ reports confirm that the precise form of this interjection has to be learnt, and that intuitions are not necessarily a reliable guide in this process [38]. > Perhaps there is a continuum from non-linguistic vocalisations like sneezing and crying to prototypical conventional lexical items like bless you and pain [39]. Our evidence suggests that huh? is more on the word side of that continuum. Based on the fact that huh? is integrated in multiple linguistic subsystems and conventionalised in language-specific ways we conclude that huh? a lexical word.