Hh
Letter H
The letter H makes the /h/ sound, like in 'hat', 'hop', and 'hen'. It is a soft breath of air.
How this rule works
H is a voiceless glottal fricative — just a puff of air with no friction. It always appears before a vowel and is sometimes silent (as in 'hour' or 'honest').
Remember: H is a puff of air — breathe out and say /h/!
Examples
Words that use this rule
240 words in the SnapPhonics dictionary use this rule. Tap any word to see how it breaks into sounds. Showing the first 200 alphabetically.
abrahamaestheticaestheticsahoyalphaalphabetatmospherebeehivebeehive'sbehindbuddhistchildhooddishesdolphineleventhelsewhereemphasizedenhanceenhancedexoatmosphericfifthhadhairhairdresserhalfhallhamhammerhandhandinghandshanghanginghappenhappenedhappeninghappilyhappyhardharderhardlyhardnesshardshipharmfulharmlessharmonizationharshnesshashastehastenhathatchhatehatefulhaunthavehaven'thavinghawkhayhazelhehe'sheadheadacheheadingheadquarteredheadsheadscarfhealhealerhealinghealthhealthyheaphearheardhearingheartheatheaterheatingheavenheavenlyheavyhedgehedgehogheelheffalumpshegemonheightheldhellohelphelpedhelperhelpfulhelpinghelplesshelplessnesshelpshemhenhenceherherdhereheritageheroheroichershesitationheterogeneousheyhihidhidehidinghieratichighhigherhighlyhighwayhikehikerhikinghillhillshimhingehiphippohirehishistoricalhistoryhithitshitterhittinghivehockeyhoghoistholdholderholdingholdsholeholesholidayhollowholyhomehomelesshomeshometownhoneyhoneycombhoodhookhoophophopehopefulhopelesshopinghoppedhorizonhornhorriblehorsehospitalhostinghothotelhoundhousehouseshowhowdyhoweverhowlhubhueshughugehugelyhulkhumhumanhumblehumblyhundredhundredthhunghungryhunthunterhunting
Exceptions
H is silent in: hour, honest, honor, heir.
What is SnapPhonics?
A phonics reference for teachers, parents and learners. Every English word, broken into the sounds that make it — with audio, syllables, and the rule behind each spelling.
Save words to study lists, build flashcard decks, and scan your own worksheets and books.