noun
aitch
AYCH
Aitch (noun) means the name of the letter H, or h. Example: “The word begins with an aitch.”
noun
1
The name of the letter H, or h.
"The word begins with an aitch."
"She wrote a small aitch at the top of the page."
"Some speakers pronounce the aitch in the word hotel and others drop it."
How to use aitch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe spoken name of the letter H.
When to use it
It is mostly used when talking about the letter itself, often in discussions of pronunciation.
Memory tip
The phrase dropping your aitches refers to leaving out the h sound at the start of words.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
drop your aitches
a capital aitch
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The word begins with an _____.
Etymology
It comes from Middle English ache, which was borrowed from Old French ache. That in turn came from Vulgar Latin, though the exact source is unclear.
Frequently asked questions
What does aitch mean?
Aitch is the name of the letter H.
How do you spell the name of the letter H?
It is spelled aitch.
What is haitch?
Haitch is a variant of aitch, used in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and it is sometimes objected to as incorrect.
What is the meaning of aitch?
"aitch" (noun) means the name of the letter H, or h.
