hen
5 synonyms for hen, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An adult female chicken, especially one kept for laying eggs.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use hen
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
hen night
hen party
laying hen
Using "hen" to address a woman is informal and regional (especially Scottish), not standard elsewhere.
Etymology
From Old English henn, related to Germanic words for "hen" that ultimately trace to an old root meaning "to sing" — the same root behind the word for a male chicken, "cock".
Full origin of hen →Frequently asked questions
What does “hen” mean?
The word “hen” means an adult female chicken, especially one kept for laying eggs. In plain terms, a female chicken; informally, a friendly way to address a woman in some British dialects.
How do you pronounce “hen”?
“Hen” is pronounced hehn (/hɛn/ in IPA).
How do you use “hen” in a sentence?
Here is “hen” used in a sentence: “The farmer collected a dozen eggs from the hens this morning.”
What is another word for “hen”?
Words with a similar meaning to “hen” include hen-bird and bachelorette.
What part of speech is “hen”?
“Hen” is a noun.
Where does the word “hen” come from?
The word “hen” comes from Old English. From Old English henn, related to Germanic words for "hen" that ultimately trace to an old root meaning "to sing" — the same root behind the word for a male chicken, "cock".
Is “hen” a common word?
“Hen” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hen” have?
“Hen” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an adult female chicken, especially one kept for laying eggs.
What is the difference between a hen and a chicken?
A hen specifically refers to an adult female chicken, especially one kept for laying eggs, while 'chicken' is the general term covering males, females, and young birds of the species. All hens are chickens, but not all chickens are hens.
Why do British and Scottish speakers call women 'hen'?
In British and especially Scottish speech, hen is used as a casual, affectionate term of address for a woman, similar to 'love' or 'dear' in other dialects. It's typically warm and informal rather than disrespectful.
Can hen refer to birds other than chickens?
Yes, hen can also refer to the adult female of various other bird species, not just chickens, such as a hen pheasant or hen duck. In these cases 'hen' simply marks the female of that species.
