Aitch

usgb/eɪtʃ/
noun

The letter 'H' in the English alphabet.

His accent made it hard to tell if he was saying 'aitch' or 'haitch'.
Visual representation of "aitch" - The letter 'H' in the English alphabet.

Often appears as...

  • drop your aitch
  • sound your aitch
Definition 1 of 1
Visual representation of "aitch"
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Pronunciation

The word 'aitch' is pronounced without a starting 'h' sound, unlike 'hotel' or 'hat'.

Illustration for Pronunciation
Listen closely to native speakers; they say 'aitch', not 'haitch'.
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Accent Variation

Some English accents may add an 'h' sound to 'aitch', but it's traditionally silent.

Illustration for Accent Variation
In some Irish accents, people pronounce it as 'haitch'.
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Letter Naming

In English, 'aitch' refers specifically to the naming of the letter 'H', not the sound it produces.

Illustration for Letter Naming
She spelled 'hotel' as 'hotel' but pronounced the 'H' as 'aitch'.
Visual representation of the word "Aitch"

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