This list includes 61 Slang words that start with H, from “hacked off” to “hype man”. They range from emotional expressions and insults to music and tech slang, useful for writing, editing, and learning informal language.
Slang words that start with H are informal words and phrases beginning with the letter H. Several popular entries trace to music, online communities, or regional speech, showing cultural shifts.
Below you’ll find the table with Word, Meaning, Region, Register, Example, and Source.
Word: The slang term as it appears in usage, so you can scan for specific words or spelling variations.
Meaning: A concise one-sentence definition that explains how people commonly use the term in everyday speech.
Region: Notes where the slang is most common, helping you judge whether a term fits local or global contexts.
Register: Indicates formality and tone—whether the term is casual, playful, offensive, or dated—so you can match usage.
Example: One short sentence showing the slang in context, so you see natural phrasing and common collocations.
Source: Brief citation or date that points to where the usage was recorded or first noted, useful for context.
Slang words that start with H
| Word | Meaning | Region | Register/Connotation |
|---|---|---|---|
| hacked off | Very annoyed or angry. | UK | Informal |
| hangry | Bad-tempered or irritable as a result of hunger. | Global | Informal, playful |
| hanky-panky | Mischievous behavior, especially of a sexual nature. | Global | Informal, dated, playful |
| hardass | A strict, tough, or uncompromising person. | US | Informal, pejorative |
| hater | A person who expresses intense dislike or criticism of another’s success. | Global (AAVE origin) | Informal, pejorative |
| have a gas | To have a very fun and enjoyable time. | US | Informal, dated |
| head | A toilet or lavatory. | Global (nautical origin) | Informal |
| headcase | An eccentric, irrational, or mentally unstable person. | Global | Informal, often pejorative |
| head honcho | The most important person in charge; the boss. | US | Informal |
| head-shrinker | A psychiatrist, psychologist, or therapist. | US | Informal, dated, playful |
| heebie-jeebies | A feeling of anxiety, fear, or unease; the creeps. | US | Informal, dated |
| hefty | A large bowel movement. | US | Informal, juvenile |
| hella | Very; a lot; an extreme amount. | US (Northern California) | Informal, regional |
| hench | Having a strong, fit, and muscular physique. | UK | Informal, youth slang |
| herb | A foolish, uncool, or contemptible person. | US (AAVE/Jamaican origin) | Informal, pejorative |
| hick | An unsophisticated person from a rural area. | US | Informal, pejorative |
| hickey | A bruise caused by kissing or sucking the skin. | Global | Informal, youth slang |
| high-five | A celebratory gesture of slapping raised palms together. | Global | Informal |
| high-key | Intensely, openly, or publicly; the opposite of low-key. | US | Informal, youth slang |
| hip | Fashionable, cool, and aware of the latest trends. | Global | Informal, dated |
| hippie | A person with unconventional values and appearance, from 1960s counterculture. | Global | Informal |
| hitched | Married. | Global | Informal, playful |
| hobnob | To socialize with people of a higher social status. | Global | Informal |
| hog | To selfishly take or use all of something. | Global | Informal |
| holla | To give a shout-out; to call out to someone. | US (AAVE origin) | Informal |
| holy moly | An exclamation of surprise, shock, or astonishment. | Global | Informal, dated |
| homeboy | A close friend from one’s own town or neighborhood. | US (AAVE/Chicano origin) | Informal, colloquial |
| homie | A close friend or acquaintance; a homeboy. | Global (AAVE origin) | Informal |
| honky | A derogatory term for a white person. | US (AAVE origin) | Pejorative, offensive |
| honky-tonk | A cheap, rowdy bar or club, often with country music. | US | Informal |
| hooch | Illicitly made or poor-quality alcoholic liquor. | US | Informal, dated |
| hoochie | A woman considered to be sexually promiscuous. | US (AAVE origin) | Pejorative, offensive |
| hood | A neighborhood, especially a poor, inner-city one. | US (AAVE origin) | Informal |
| hoof it | To go somewhere on foot; to walk or run. | UK/US | Informal |
| hook up | To engage in a casual sexual encounter. | Global (primarily US) | Informal |
| hooky | Truancy from school. | US | Informal |
| hooligan | A violent troublemaker, especially one in a gang or at a sports event. | UK/Global | Informal, pejorative |
| hoon | A reckless and loutish driver; to drive recklessly. | AUS/NZ | Informal, pejorative |
| hoopty | An old, beat-up, and dilapidated car. | US (AAVE origin) | Informal |
| hooray Henry | A loud, ostentatiously-dressed upper-class man. | UK | Informal, pejorative |
| hoosegow | Jail or prison. | US | Informal, dated |
| hooters | A woman’s breasts. | US | Informal, vulgar |
| horlicks | A complete mess or muddle. | UK | Informal |
| hot | Sexually attractive or good-looking. | Global | Informal |
| hot mess | A person or thing that is disorganized and chaotic but still appealing. | US | Informal |
| hot take | A controversial and quickly-produced opinion on a current event. | Global (internet slang) | Informal |
| hot-to-trot | Eager and ready to go; sexually aroused. | Global | Informal, playful |
| hottie | A sexually attractive person. | Global | Informal |
| howler | A very obvious and embarrassing mistake. | UK/AUS | Informal |
| hubba-hubba | An exclamation of admiration for someone’s attractiveness. | US | Informal, dated |
| humdinger | An outstanding or remarkable person or thing. | US | Informal, dated |
| humongous | Extremely large; huge. | US | Informal |
| hump | To have sexual intercourse. | Global | Informal, vulgar |
| hump day | Wednesday, the middle of the workweek. | Global (primarily US) | Informal |
| hundo | One hundred. | US/Global | Informal |
| hunky-dory | Perfectly fine, satisfactory, and okay. | Global | Informal, dated |
| hurl | To vomit or throw up. | US | Informal |
| hush money | A bribe paid to someone to keep a secret. | Global | Informal |
| hustle | To work hard and aggressively; to obtain money illicitly. | Global (AAVE origin) | Informal |
| hype | Intense promotion, excitement, or publicity. | Global | Informal |
| hype man | A person who energizes the audience for a performer, especially in hip-hop. | Global (Hip-hop origin) | Informal |
Descriptions
hacked off
A common British expression to show displeasure without using stronger profanity. Example: “I was properly hacked off when my train was cancelled.”
hangry
A portmanteau of “hungry” and “angry,” this popular term perfectly describes a very relatable feeling.
hanky-panky
Often used humorously to refer to illicit or secret romantic dalliances.
hardass
This term is used to describe a tough boss, teacher, or authority figure who shows no leniency.
hater
Popularized through hip-hop, this term describes someone defined by their negativity towards others, often out of jealousy.
have a gas
This phrase was popular in the 1950s and 60s. Example: “We went to the drive-in and really had a gas.”
head
Originally sailor slang for the toilet, which was located at the ship’s head or bow, it’s now used more widely.
headcase
This term is a blunt way to describe someone considered unpredictable or difficult to deal with.
head honcho
Borrowed from the Japanese word ‘hanchō’ (squad leader) after WWII, it’s a casual term for a leader.
head-shrinker
A colloquial and somewhat dismissive term for a mental health professional, popularized in the mid-20th century.
heebie-jeebies
This fun, rhyming phrase for a case of the nerves was coined in a 1920s comic strip, “Barney Google.”
hefty
A slang term used, often by children, to describe a particularly large or substantial poo.
hella
A signature slang word from the San Francisco Bay Area that serves as a strong intensifier. Example: “It’s hella cold today.”
hench
Popular in modern British slang, this adjective is a compliment for someone who clearly works out.
herb
Used to describe someone who is considered weak, lame, or easily taken advantage of.
hick
A derogatory term for someone from the countryside, implying they are ignorant or uncultured.
hickey
Also known as a “love bite,” it’s a temporary mark left on the skin from a passionate kiss.
high-five
The term describes both the action and the gesture itself, symbolizing success or agreement.
high-key
Used to describe something that is obvious and not subtle. Example: “I high-key love this song.”
hip
Originating in early 20th-century jazz culture, being “hip” meant you were in the know.
hippie
Associated with peace, love, and psychedelic rock, the term now describes a bohemian style or mindset.
hitched
A casual, folksy way of saying that a couple has gotten married. Example: “They’re getting hitched next Saturday.”
hobnob
This term often implies networking or mixing with influential people in a friendly, informal way.
hog
Someone who “hogs the remote” is keeping it all to themselves, not sharing with others.
holla
A greeting or a way to get someone’s attention, popularized by hip-hop culture in the 1990s.
holy moly
A minced oath used as a mild and often humorous way to express being impressed or amazed.
homeboy
Often used to refer to a fellow member of one’s inner circle or peer group. ‘Homegirl’ is the female equivalent.
homie
A shortened, more widespread version of “homeboy,” used affectionately to refer to a good friend.
honky
This term emerged in the 1960s as a racial slur and remains offensive.
honky-tonk
The term evokes images of rural or Southern bars with live bands, dancing, and plenty of beer.
hooch
Strongly associated with the Prohibition era, “hooch” refers to homemade spirits like moonshine.
hoochie
A derogatory term used to slut-shame women, often based on their clothing or behavior.
hood
A shortening of “neighborhood,” it often carries connotations of being tough, street-smart, and urban.
hoof it
A casual phrase for choosing to walk instead of taking transport. Example: “My car broke down, so I had to hoof it.”
hook up
This versatile phrase can mean anything from kissing to intercourse, usually without romantic commitment.
hooky
To “play hooky” is to skip school or work without permission.
hooligan
While now in standard dictionaries, the word retains its slangy feel for describing disruptive, loutish behavior.
hoon
A classic piece of Australasian slang for someone who speeds and performs car stunts on public roads.
hoopty
A fun, descriptive word for a car that is barely running and in terrible condition.
hooray Henry
This quintessentially British stereotype describes an arrogant man from a privileged background.
hoosegow
This Wild West slang for “jail” is an alteration of the Spanish word ‘juzgado,’ meaning courthouse.
hooters
A blunt and objectifying slang term for breasts, popularized by the restaurant chain of the same name.
horlicks
To “make a Horlicks of something” means to mess it up completely, derived from the brand name of a malted drink.
hot
One of the most common slang uses of a standard word, used to describe someone’s physical appeal.
hot mess
This phrase describes a situation or person that is spectacularly failing in some way.
hot take
Often used to describe a deliberately provocative opinion meant to generate clicks and discussion online.
hot-to-trot
This slightly dated phrase conveys an enthusiastic readiness for action or romance.
hottie
A common and straightforward term for someone you find good-looking.
howler
A mistake so bad it makes you “howl” with laughter or cringe with embarrassment.
hubba-hubba
A classic catcall from the 1940s used by soldiers in WWII to show appreciation for a beautiful woman.
humdinger
A folksy Americanism for something that is truly impressive. Example: “That thunderstorm was a real humdinger.”
humongous
This playful word for “massive” originated as U.S. collegiate slang in the 1960s.
hump
A crude verb for the act of sex, also used for the act of dry-humping or thrusting against something.
hump day
Getting over “hump day” means you’ve passed the hardest part of the week and are on the way to the weekend.
hundo
A casual term for a hundred-dollar bill or a quantity of one hundred. Example: “It’ll cost you a hundo.”
hunky-dory
A cheerful, old-fashioned phrase indicating that everything is all right.
hurl
A very descriptive and visceral slang term for being sick.
hush money
This idiom refers to money exchanged to ensure silence about something scandalous or illegal.
hustle
This word can mean working hard to achieve a goal or swindling people out of money.
hype
Hype refers to the buzz created around a new product, movie, or event, which can sometimes be exaggerated.
hype man
The hype man’s job is to support the main artist on stage with exclamations and interjections to excite the crowd.