I was in Tokyo earlier this year and one thing I noticed people saying a lot
was something that sounded like `anno`.

It sounded to me like an uncertain pause in a sentence, like:

```

    I'd like, er... (anno) one of those please
    
```

Is there an equivalent in Japanese of the English 'er...'?

If so, how would I use it in a basic Japanese sentence such as ordering
drinks?
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2015-11-04T18:51:41.577
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2015-11-05T08:36:04.277
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translation
What's the Japanese for 'er...' - a pause or uncertainty in a sentence?
You heard あのう _anō_ , which is a bit like "ahem" or "well", used to get
someone's attention and prepare the listener to what you're going to say.

A better substitute for "er" would be えっと／ええと. To order a beer you could say

> えっと、生一。
>
> えっと、とりあえず生で。

(if you're asked by the waiter).

If you're trying to get the waiter's attention, it's better to use あのう.

Also check

  * [Where does 「えっと」 come from?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/9580/where-does-%E3%81%88%E3%81%A3%E3%81%A8-come-from)
  * [How to begin a reply to a question?](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/16030/how-to-begin-a-reply-to-a-question/16031#16031)
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2015-11-04T19:07:23.563
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2017-04-13T12:43:44.863
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You heard right (more or less), and you're assumption is right. "I'd like...
uh... a beer". "Etto" (sometimes with the E longer than other times) also
works similarly and is more formal... if you can believe that.

It can also be used to get someone's attention, by simply stating either
rather blankly. Tone and other words appended can change this from harmless to
angry.

Another usage is just to buy time. Translation wise it would probably the
same, but also colloquially could sound more like, "Let's see..." like you
might say while looking over a menu while your server anxiously awaits you to
decide.

Basic usage will sound different since the variable in the sentence (drinks in
this case) are located in a different part of the sentence. For example if
you're asked what you want, a valid reply might be.

```

    えっとですね。。。ビールをお願いします。
    
```

In short... both are pretty flexible.
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2015-11-04T19:12:13.167
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