Most people use filler words when they speak — and teenagers are especially prone to them.
These little words sneak into our vocabulary to fill pauses or link thoughts together. Sometimes, filler words reflect uncertainty, as if the speaker isn’t fully confident in what they’re saying and avoids taking full responsibility for their words.
Other times, it’s just a habit picked up from friends or family. But overusing filler words can seriously affect the clarity of speech. After all, it’s hard to listen to someone’s story when every other word is “like” or “you know.”
Examples of Filler Words
There are countless examples of filler words. Some are obvious to everyone, while others are barely noticeable.
If a person often says «for example», this is also a parasite word. Any frequently repeated words that one can do without can be considered parasites. The most common parasite words are:
- Like
- You know
- Basically
- So
- I mean
- Actually
- Kind of / Sort of
- Well
And the list goes on. Chances are, you’ve noticed them in other people’s speech — or even your own.
Where Filler Words Come From
Filler words often appear in childhood, during early speech development.
Young children have a small vocabulary, but a big desire to speak quickly and emotionally. To keep the conversation going, they insert short, meaningless words to fill gaps.
If this habit isn’t addressed early, it can follow them into adulthood — where breaking it becomes much harder. Overusing fillers can weaken speech and even irritate listeners.
This problem is so common that it affects even people whose jobs require clear, precise communication.
Research shows just how widespread filler words are, even among professionals.
How to Reduce Filler Words
The best solution for a child is to expand their vocabulary. The more ways they know to express an idea, the less they’ll need to fill pauses with empty words.
Reading is also a powerful tool. Exposure to well-structured, literary language helps children learn how to express themselves clearly and without verbal clutter.
Games and activities can help too — for example, language exercises like those offered by the online Russian language school Palme School.
The key is to notice filler words early in a child’s speech and work on breaking the habit. The sooner you start, the better the results will be.
