> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://miniti.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# filler words

> per-language filler lists, how to customize them, and how to actually reduce them

filler word tracking runs locally on every transcript segment. it counts exact matches of single-word and multi-word phrases against a per-language list. no llm, no api calls.

## how miniti counts them

1. the transcript is tokenized (lowercased, punctuation stripped, apostrophes preserved)
2. each filler from the active language list is matched as a sequence of tokens - so "you know" matches two adjacent words, not the word "you" or the word "know" on their own
3. only **final** transcript segments are counted. deepgram's interim results don't contribute, so you won't see false spikes while a sentence is still forming
4. counts are per-speaker and per-minute (fillers-per-minute = fillers / session minutes)

## default filler lists per language

these are the out-of-the-box lists. you can override any of them in settings.

### english

`um`, `uh`, `hmm`, `hm`, `er`, `ah`, `like`, `basically`, `literally`, `actually`, `honestly`, `uh huh`, `you know`, `i mean`, `kind of`, `sort of`

### spanish

`eh`, `este`, `bueno`, `o sea`, `pues`, `es que`, `digamos`, `entonces`, `a ver`

### french

`euh`, `ben`, `genre`, `en fait`, `du coup`, `voilà`, `quoi`, `bah`, `bon`

### german

`äh`, `ähm`, `halt`, `also`, `sozusagen`, `quasi`, `irgendwie`, `na ja`, `genau`

### portuguese

`é`, `né`, `tipo`, `assim`, `então`, `bom`, `quer dizer`, `enfim`

### italian

`ehm`, `cioè`, `tipo`, `allora`, `praticamente`, `insomma`, `diciamo`, `boh`

### dutch

`eh`, `uhm`, `eigenlijk`, `zeg maar`, `weet je`, `dus`, `nou`, `gewoon`

### swedish

`eh`, `öh`, `liksom`, `typ`, `alltså`, `asså`, `va`, `ju`, `ba`

### greek

`ε`, `εε`, `δηλαδή`, `κοίτα`, `λοιπόν`, `ας πούμε`, `τέλος πάντων`

### polish

`ee`, `no`, `w sumie`, `jakby`, `znaczy`, `generalnie`, `w zasadzie`, `tak naprawdę`

### russian

`эм`, `ну`, `вот`, `типа`, `короче`, `как бы`, `в общем`, `значит`, `так сказать`

## customizing the list

default lists are a starting point - what counts as a filler depends on your context. settings → training → filler words, then pick a language.

two reasons to customize:

1. **add your personal tells** - "kind of", "right?", "so", "basically" are common repeats that aren't always in the default list. if your saved meetings keep flagging you on a word you never noticed, add it.
2. **remove false positives** - "like" is a filler most of the time but a valid verb ("i like that"). "actually" is sometimes meaningful contrast. if the metric over-penalises you, remove words that your context uses meaningfully.

### what to add first

listen back to one saved meeting in full. every time you skip past yourself saying the same thing twice in 30 seconds - that's a candidate. common additions people don't realise:

* **bridging tics**: "so", "right", "okay", "yeah"
* **softeners**: "i guess", "i suppose", "maybe", "probably"
* **hedges**: "a little bit", "somewhat", "fairly"
* **verbal stalls**: "one second", "let me think", "how do i put this"

### reset to defaults

if you go too far, **reset** in settings restores the language's default list.

## how to actually reduce fillers

fillers usually spike when you're **buying time to think** or **starting a sentence you haven't finished composing**. three practical interventions:

### 1. the deliberate pause

replace "um" with silence. a 1-2 second pause feels long to you but short to the listener - and it sounds like confidence, not hesitation. the training metric drops immediately because silence isn't a filler.

### 2. start sentences you've already formed

most fillers happen in the first 3 words of a sentence because you started before the sentence was ready. take half a breath, compose the sentence in your head, then open your mouth.

### 3. end sentences on the word, not the trailing filler

"...so that's what i was thinking, you know?" has two fillers. drop them: "...so that's what i was thinking." the metric will thank you; the listener will thank you more.

## measuring improvement

* **per meeting**: check fillers/minute in the training pane for each saved meeting
* **per type**: fillers that show up on discovery calls might not show up on internal standups, and vice versa. compare like-for-like
* **per week**: aim for a trend, not a target. one noisy meeting in a good week is normal

see [tracking progress](/docs/coaching/tracking-progress) for the full workflow.

## caveats

* fillers require **exact token matches**, so "ummmm" (not in the list) won't count the same as "um". add variant spellings if your speech pattern includes them
* partial matches don't fire - "basic" won't count as "basically"
* multi-word phrases (like "you know") must appear as adjacent tokens with no punctuation between them
* interim transcript text is intentionally ignored to avoid flicker - fillers are counted when the segment is finalised

## see also

* [speech coaching overview](/docs/features/speech-coaching)
* [delivery metrics](/docs/coaching/delivery) - talk ratio, pace, monologue, clarity
* [tracking progress](/docs/coaching/tracking-progress)