Hesitation syllables, also known as filler words, are short sounds or words that are used to fill pauses in speech. They are often used when a speaker is unsure of what to say or needs time to think. Examples of hesitation syllables include 'um, ' 'uh, ' and 'er.' The crossword solution for the term 'hesitation syllables' is ERS, which is an abbreviation of the most common hesitation syllable, 'er.'