あの

あの
pre-noun adjectival, interjection
that (over there, before noun)
1. that (over there, modifying a noun)
A demonstrative adjective used before nouns to indicate something far from both speaker and listener.
What is that mountain?
Who is that person over there?
Let's buy it at that store over there.
That white building is a hospital.
I still clearly remember swimming in that river every day when I was a child.
Shared memory usage
2. um, well (hesitation)
Used as a filler word when hesitating or getting someone's attention.
あの、すみません
Um, excuse me.
Getting attention politely
Um, do you have a moment?
Drawn-out pronunciation
Um, do you have time now?
あのー、これ(なん)です
Um, what is this?
Um, about yesterday... actually I was thinking the same thing.
Hesitation before difficult topic

あの has two distinct uses. As a demonstrative, it modifies nouns referring to distant things or shared knowledge. As an interjection (あの...), it's used to get attention politely or as a filler when hesitating, similar to 'um' or 'well' in English. The pronunciation is often drawn out: あのー.