haitch

English

Alternative forms

• aitch

Etymology

From earlier aitch with an initial H (lost already in Vulgar Latin) restored, from Middle English ache, from Old French ache, from Vulgar Latin *acca, probably an extension of earlier ha, from an unidentified source. The restoration reflects the pronunciation of the letter name in several dialects of English. See the Wikipedia article about the letter.

Pronunciation

• enPR: hāitch, IPA^(key): /ˈheɪt͡ʃ/
• Rhymes: -eɪtʃ

Noun

haitch (plural haitches)

1. (chiefly Ireland, Australia, Malaysia) Alternative form of aitch

Usage notes

Is often considered to be h-adding and deemed nonstandard in England, but occurs in Hiberno-English and Australian English as the standard dialect. It is also seen in scattered varieties of Edinburgh, England, and Welsh English, especially among the younger people.

Descendants

• → Irish: héis

Translations

name of the letter H — see aitch