This list includes 94 Hard words that start with H, from “habiliment” to “hysteron proteron”. These entries are typically low-frequency, polysyllabic, archaic, or specialized, and suit study, writing, and editing.
Hard words that start with H are challenging, low-frequency terms you encounter in classical, technical, or literary contexts. For example, “hysteron proteron” names an ancient rhetorical device that reverses logical order for effect.
Below you’ll find the table with Etymology and Definition.
Etymology: Shows each word’s origin, roots, and date so you understand historical meaning and word relationships.
Definition: Gives a concise part-of-speech and one-sentence sense so you can quickly grasp usage and nuance.
Hard words that start with H
| Word | Part of speech | Pronunciation | Etymology |
|---|---|---|---|
| habiliment | noun | /həˈbɪlɪmənt/ | Old French *abillement*, from *abiller* ‘to prepare’. |
| habitué | noun | /həˈbɪtʃuˌeɪ/ | French *habitué*, past participle of *habituer* ‘to accustom’. |
| hacienda | noun | /ˌhɑːsiˈɛndə/ | Spanish, from Latin *facienda* ‘things to be done’. |
| haecceity | noun | /hɛkˈsiːɪti/ | Medieval Latin *haecceitas*, from *haec* ‘this’. |
| hagiarchy | noun | /ˈhæɡiˌɑːrki/ | Greek *hagios* ‘holy’ + *-arkhia* ‘rule’. |
| hagiography | noun | /ˌhæɡiˈɒɡrəfi/ | Greek *hagios* ‘holy’ + *graphia* ‘writing’. |
| halberd | noun | /ˈhælbərd/ | Middle High German *helmbarte*, from *helm* ‘handle’ + *barte* ‘ax’. |
| halcyon | adjective | /ˈhælsiən/ | Greek *halkuōn*, a mythical bird said to calm the seas. |
| halyard | noun | /ˈhæljərd/ | Middle English *halier*, from *halen* ‘to haul’. |
| hamartia | noun | /ˌhɑːmɑːrˈtiːə/ | Greek *hamartia*, ‘fault, failure, guilt’. |
| hapax legomenon | noun | /ˈhæpæks lɪˈɡɒmɪnɒn/ | Greek for ‘said only once’. |
| harangue | noun | /həˈræŋ/ | Old Italian *aringa*, from *aringo* ‘public square’. |
| harbinger | noun | /ˈhɑːrbɪndʒər/ | Old French *herbergier* ‘to provide lodging’. |
| harridan | noun | /ˈhærɪdən/ | Perhaps from French *haridelle* ‘worn-out horse’. |
| haruspex | noun | /həˈrʌspɛks/ | Latin, from a non-Latin word + *specere* ‘to look at’. |
| hauberk | noun | /ˈhɔːbɜːrk/ | Old French *hauberc*, of Germanic origin. |
| hauteur | noun | /hɔːˈtɜːr/ | French, from *haut* ‘high’. |
| hecatomb | noun | /ˈhɛkəˌtoʊm/ | Greek *hekatombē*, from *hekaton* ‘one hundred’ + *bous* ‘ox’. |
| hedonic | adjective | /hɪˈdɒnɪk/ | Greek *hēdonikos*, from *hēdonē* ‘pleasure’. |
| hegemony | noun | /hɪˈdʒɛməni/ | Greek *hēgemonia*, from *hēgemōn* ‘leader’. |
| hegira | noun | /ˈhɛdʒərə/ | Arabic *hijra* ‘departure’. |
| helminthology | noun | /ˌhɛlmɪnˈθɒlədʒi/ | Greek *helmins* ‘worm’ + *-logia* ‘study’. |
| hemeralopia | noun | /ˌhɛmərəˈloʊpiə/ | Greek *hēmera* ‘day’ + *al(aos)* ‘blind’ + *ōps* ‘eye’. |
| hemicrania | noun | /ˌhɛmɪˈkreɪniə/ | Greek *hēmi-* ‘half’ + *kranion* ‘skull’. |
| hemistich | noun | /ˈhɛmɪˌstɪk/ | Greek *hēmistikhion*, from *hēmi-* ‘half’ + *stikhos* ‘line of verse’. |
| hendecasyllabic | adjective | /hɛnˌdɛkəsɪˈlæbɪk/ | Greek *hendeka* ‘eleven’ + *syllabē* ‘syllable’. |
| hendiadys | noun | /hɛnˈdaɪədɪs/ | Latin from Greek *hen dia dyoin* ‘one through two’. |
| hereditament | noun | /ˌhɪrɪˈdɪtəmənt/ | Late Latin *hereditamentum*, from *hereditare* ‘to inherit’. |
| heretical | adjective | /həˈrɛtɪkəl/ | Greek *hairetikos* ‘able to choose’. |
| hermeneutics | noun | /ˌhɜːrməˈnjuːtɪks/ | Greek *hermēneutikos*, from *hermēneuein* ‘to interpret’. |
| hermetic | adjective | /hɜːrˈmɛtɪk/ | From Hermes Trismegistus, legendary alchemist. |
| herpetology | noun | /ˌhɜːrpəˈtɒlədʒi/ | Greek *herpeton* ‘creeping animal’ + *-logia* ‘study’. |
| hesychasm | noun | /ˈhɛsɪˌkæzəm/ | Greek *hēsychia* ‘quiet, rest, silence’. |
| heteroclite | adjective | /ˈhɛtərəˌklaɪt/ | Greek *heteroklitos* ‘irregularly inflected’. |
| heterodox | adjective | /ˈhɛtərədɒks/ | Greek *heteros* ‘other’ + *doxa* ‘opinion’. |
| heterodyne | verb | /ˈhɛtərəˌdaɪn/ | Greek *heteros* ‘other’ + *dynamis* ‘power’. |
| heterogeneous | adjective | /ˌhɛtərəˈdʒiːniəs/ | Greek *heteros* ‘other’ + *genos* ‘a kind’. |
| heuristic | noun | /hjʊˈrɪstɪk/ | Greek *heuriskein* ‘to find, discover’. |
| hibernal | adjective | /haɪˈbɜːrnəl/ | Latin *hibernalis*, from *hiems* ‘winter’. |
| hidalgo | noun | /hɪˈdælɡoʊ/ | Spanish, contraction of *hijo de algo* ‘son of something’. |
| hieratic | adjective | /ˌhaɪəˈrætɪk/ | Greek *hieratikos*, from *hiereus* ‘priest’. |
| hierodule | noun | /ˈhaɪəroʊˌdjuːl/ | Greek *hieros* ‘sacred’ + *doulos* ‘slave’. |
| hierophant | noun | /ˈhaɪərəˌfænt/ | Greek *hierophantēs*, from *hieros* ‘sacred’ + *phainein* ‘to show’. |
| hirsute | adjective | /ˈhɜːrsuːt/ | Latin *hirsutus* ‘shaggy, hairy’. |
| histology | noun | /hɪˈstɒlədʒi/ | Greek *histos* ‘web, tissue’ + *-logia* ‘study’. |
| historiography | noun | /hɪˌstɔːriˈɒɡrəfi/ | Greek *historia* ‘inquiry’ + *graphia* ‘writing’. |
| histrionic | adjective | /ˌhɪstriˈɒnɪk/ | Latin *histrionicus*, from *histrio* ‘actor’. |
| hoary | adjective | /ˈhɔːri/ | Old English *har* ‘gray, old’. |
| hoi polloi | noun | /ˌhɔɪ pəˈlɔɪ/ | Greek *hoi polloi* ‘the many’. |
| holograph | noun | /ˈhɒləˌɡræf/ | Greek *holos* ‘whole’ + *graphos* ‘written’. |
| holophrastic | adjective | /ˌhɑləˈfræstɪk/ | Greek *holos* ‘whole’ + *phrasis* ‘speech’. |
| holystone | noun | /ˈhoʊliˌstoʊn/ | Origin uncertain; perhaps from its use for scrubbing on holy days. |
| homiletic | adjective | /ˌhɒmɪˈlɛtɪk/ | Greek *homilētikos* ‘of conversation’. |
| homily | noun | /ˈhɒməli/ | Greek *homilia* ‘discourse, conversation’. |
| homologate | verb | /həˈmɒləˌɡeɪt/ | Greek *homologein* ‘to agree, allow’. |
| homunculus | noun | /hoʊˈmʌŋkjʊləs/ | Latin *homunculus*, diminutive of *homo* ‘man’. |
| honorific | noun | /ˌɒnəˈrɪfɪk/ | Latin *honorificus*, from *honor* ‘honor’. |
| horology | noun | /hɒˈrɒlədʒi/ | Greek *hōra* ‘hour, time’ + *-logia* ‘study’. |
| horripilation | noun | /hɔːˌrɪpəˈleɪʃən/ | Latin *horripilare*, from *horrere* ‘to bristle’ + *pilus* ‘hair’. |
| hortatory | adjective | /ˈhɔːrtətɔːri/ | Latin *hortatorius*, from *hortari* ‘to exhort’. |
| hortulan | adjective | /ˈhɔːrtʃələn/ | Latin *hortulanus*, from *hortus* ‘garden’. |
| hostelry | noun | /ˈhɒstəlri/ | Old French *hostelerie*, from *hostel* ‘lodging’. |
| hubris | noun | /ˈhjuːbrɪs/ | Greek *hubris* ‘wanton violence, insolence’. |
| humectant | noun | /hjuːˈmɛktənt/ | Latin *humectans*, from *humere* ‘to be moist’. |
| hyaline | adjective | /ˈhaɪəlɪn/ | Greek *hyalinos*, from *hyalos* ‘glass, crystal’. |
| hydragogue | noun | /ˈhaɪdrəˌɡɒɡ/ | Greek *hydro-* ‘water’ + *agōgos* ‘leading’. |
| hydrargyrum | noun | /haɪˈdrɑːrdʒərəm/ | Latin, from Greek *hydrargyros* ‘water-silver’. |
| hydrodynamics | noun | /ˌhaɪdroʊdaɪˈnæmɪks/ | Greek *hydro-* ‘water’ + *dynamics* ‘forces’. |
| hydrology | noun | /haɪˈdrɒlədʒi/ | Greek *hydro-* ‘water’ + *-logia* ‘study’. |
| hydrolysis | noun | /haɪˈdrɒlɪsɪs/ | Greek *hydro-* ‘water’ + *lysis* ‘a setting free’. |
| hydrophyte | noun | /ˈhaɪdrəˌfaɪt/ | Greek *hydro-* ‘water’ + *phyton* ‘a plant’. |
| hygrometer | noun | /haɪˈɡrɒmɪtər/ | Greek *hygros* ‘wet, moist’ + *metron* ‘measure’. |
| hylomorphism | noun | /ˌhaɪloʊˈmɔːrfɪzəm/ | Greek *hylē* ‘matter’ + *morphē* ‘form’. |
| hymenopteran | noun | /ˌhaɪməˈnɒptərən/ | Greek *hymen* ‘membrane’ + *pteron* ‘wing’. |
| hypaethral | adjective | /hɪˈpiːθrəl/ | Greek *hypaithrios*, from *hypo* ‘under’ + *aithēr* ‘ether, air’. |
| hyperbaton | noun | /haɪˈpɜːrbətɒn/ | Greek, from *hyperbainein* ‘to step over’. |
| hyperborean | adjective | /ˌhaɪpərˈbɔːriən/ | Greek *Hyperboreoi*, a mythical people ‘beyond the North Wind’. |
| hypercritical | adjective | /ˌhaɪpərˈkrɪtɪkəl/ | Greek *hyper-* ‘over’ + *kritikos* ‘able to discern’. |
| hypergamy | noun | /haɪˈpɜːrɡəmi/ | Greek *hyper-* ‘over, above’ + *gamos* ‘marriage’. |
| hyperkinesia | noun | /ˌhaɪpərkɪˈniːʒə/ | Greek *hyper-* ‘over’ + *kinēsis* ‘motion’. |
| hypermnesia | noun | /ˌhaɪpərmˈniːʒə/ | Greek *hyper-* ‘over’ + *mnesis* ‘memory’. |
| hypernym | noun | /ˈhaɪpərnɪm/ | Greek *hyper-* ‘over’ + *onoma* ‘name’. |
| hypertrophy | noun | /haɪˈpɜːrtrəfi/ | Greek *hyper-* ‘over’ + *trophē* ‘nourishment’. |
| hypnagogic | adjective | /ˌhɪpnəˈɡɒdʒɪk/ | Greek *hypnos* ‘sleep’ + *agōgos* ‘leading’. |
| hypnopedia | noun | /ˌhɪpnoʊˈpiːdiə/ | Greek *hypnos* ‘sleep’ + *paideia* ‘education’. |
| hypocorism | noun | /ˌhaɪpəˈkɒrɪzəm/ | Greek *hypokorisma*, from *hypokorizesthai* ‘to use pet names’. |
| hypogeal | adjective | /ˌhaɪpəˈdʒiːəl/ | Greek *hypo-* ‘under’ + *gē* ‘earth’. |
| hypolimnion | noun | /ˌhaɪpoʊˈlɪmniən/ | Greek *hypo-* ‘under’ + *limnē* ‘lake’. |
| hypoplasia | noun | /ˌhaɪpoʊˈpleɪʒə/ | Greek *hypo-* ‘under’ + *plasis* ‘formation’. |
| hypostatize | verb | /haɪˈpɒstəˌtaɪz/ | Greek *hypostasis* ‘substance, sediment’. |
| hypotaxis | noun | /ˌhaɪpoʊˈtæksɪs/ | Greek, from *hypotassein* ‘to arrange under’. |
| hypothecate | verb | /haɪˈpɒθɪˌkeɪt/ | Greek *hypothēkē* ‘a pledge’. |
| hysteresis | noun | /ˌhɪstəˈriːsɪs/ | Greek *hysterēsis* ‘shortcoming, coming late’. |
| hysteron proteron | noun | /ˈhɪstərɒn ˈprɒtərɒn/ | Greek for ‘later earlier’. |
Descriptions
habiliment
The clothes or attire characteristic of a particular profession or occasion, especially formal wear.
habitué
A resident of or frequent visitor to a particular place, like a regular at a specific café or bar.
hacienda
A large estate or plantation with a dwelling house, especially in Spanish-speaking countries.
haecceity
The property of a thing that makes it a unique individual; a very specific philosophical term for “thisness.”
hagiarchy
A government run by saints, priests, or other people considered to be holy.
hagiography
The writing of the lives of saints, now often used to describe an overly flattering biography.
halberd
A historical two-handed pole weapon combining an ax-like blade with a spike at the end.
halcyon
Denoting a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy, peaceful, and prosperous.
halyard
A rope used for hoisting or lowering a sail, flag, or yard on a sailing ship.
hamartia
The fatal flaw in a character that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine in literature.
hapax legomenon
A word or expression that appears only once within a specific text, an author’s works, or a language’s entire body of literature.
harangue
A lengthy and aggressive speech, often delivered in a critical or lecturing manner.
harbinger
A person or thing that announces or signals the approach of another; a forerunner of what’s to come.
harridan
A strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman; a more formal word for a shrew.
haruspex
A religious official in ancient Rome who interpreted omens by inspecting the entrails of sacrificed animals.
hauberk
A piece of chain mail armor that originally covered the neck and shoulders but later the whole torso.
hauteur
An obnoxious and overwhelming display of pride and arrogance; haughtiness.
hecatomb
A large-scale public sacrifice in ancient Greece or Rome, originally of 100 oxen.
hedonic
Relating to or considered in terms of pleasant sensations; devoted to the pursuit of pleasure.
hegemony
The political, economic, or military predominance or control of one state over others.
hegira
An exodus or migration, famously referring to Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Medina in 622.
helminthology
The branch of zoology that is concerned with the study of parasitic worms.
hemeralopia
A medical condition of defective vision in bright light, also known as day-blindness.
hemicrania
Pain affecting only one side of the head; the medical term that gave us the word “migraine.”
hemistich
Half a line of verse, especially as divided by a caesura or pause.
hendecasyllabic
Describing a line of verse that contains eleven syllables.
hendiadys
A figure of speech in which two words linked by ‘and’ are used to express a single complex idea.
hereditament
Any item of property, whether a building, land, or an abstract right, that can be inherited.
heretical
Holding an opinion or belief that is strongly at odds with what is generally accepted, especially in religion.
hermeneutics
The branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation, especially of the Bible or literary texts.
hermetic
Completely sealed and airtight, or relating to an ancient occult tradition of alchemy and astrology.
herpetology
The branch of zoology concerned with the study of reptiles and amphibians.
hesychasm
A tradition of contemplative prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Church that emphasizes inner stillness.
heteroclite
Abnormal or irregular; deviating from the common rule or standard.
heterodox
Not conforming with accepted or orthodox standards or beliefs; unorthodox.
heterodyne
To mix two radio frequencies to create two new frequencies, one being the sum and the other the difference.
heterogeneous
Diverse in character or content; composed of parts of different kinds.
heuristic
A practical approach to problem-solving or learning that is not guaranteed to be optimal but is sufficient for the immediate goals.
hibernal
Of, characteristic of, or occurring in winter; wintry.
hidalgo
A gentleman in a Spanish-speaking country; a member of the lower nobility.
hieratic
Of or concerning priests; also a cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing used by priests.
hierodule
A slave or temple attendant dedicated to the service of a god in ancient Greece.
hierophant
A person, especially a priest, who interprets sacred mysteries or esoteric principles.
hirsute
Having a large amount of hair; shaggy.
histology
The study of the microscopic structure of biological tissues.
historiography
The study of the writing of history and of written histories; the study of historical methodology.
histrionic
Overly theatrical or melodramatic in character or style.
hoary
Grayish white, especially from age; ancient or venerable.
hoi polloi
The masses or common people, often used in a slightly derogatory way.
holograph
A manuscript or document, such as a will, handwritten by the person named as its author.
holophrastic
Expressing a complex idea in a single word or a fixed phrase.
holystone
A soft sandstone used for scouring the wooden decks of a ship.
homiletic
Of the nature of or characteristic of a homily or sermon; preachy.
homily
A religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction; a sermon.
homologate
To approve or confirm officially, especially a judgement, treaty, or the result of a car race.
homunculus
A very small human or humanoid creature, a concept often associated with historical alchemy.
honorific
A title or word implying or expressing respect, such as ‘Sir’, ‘Dr.’, or ‘Your Majesty’.
horology
The study and measurement of time, including the art of designing and making clocks and watches.
horripilation
The technical term for the bristling of hair on the skin from cold or fear; goosebumps.
hortatory
Tending or aiming to exhort; serving to encourage, urge, or advise.
hortulan
Of or relating to a garden or to gardening.
hostelry
An inn or hotel; a formal and somewhat archaic term for a place of lodging.
hubris
Excessive pride or self-confidence that often defies the gods and leads to a person’s downfall.
humectant
A substance, often used in food and cosmetics, that is used to reduce the loss of moisture.
hyaline
Having a glassy, translucent appearance, like cartilage or certain types of rock.
hydragogue
An archaic medical term for a drug having a strong purgative effect that produces watery stools.
hydrargyrum
The Latin name for the element mercury (Hg), from which its chemical symbol is derived.
hydrodynamics
The branch of science concerned with the forces acting on or exerted by fluids, especially liquids.
hydrology
The scientific study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth.
hydrolysis
The chemical breakdown of a compound due to its reaction with water.
hydrophyte
A plant which grows either partially or fully submerged in water.
hygrometer
An instrument used for measuring the amount of humidity or water vapor in the air.
hylomorphism
The philosophical doctrine that physical objects result from the combination of matter and form.
hymenopteran
An insect of a large order characterized by membranous wings, including ants, bees, and wasps.
hypaethral
Describing a building or temple that is open to the sky and has no roof.
hyperbaton
A figure of speech in which words that naturally belong together are separated from each other for emphasis.
hyperborean
Relating to the farthest north; an inhabitant of an extremely cold northern region.
hypercritical
Excessively and unreasonably critical, especially of small or insignificant faults.
hypergamy
The practice of a person marrying a spouse of a higher caste or social status than their own.
hyperkinesia
A condition, especially in children, characterized by excessive restlessness and movement.
hypermnesia
A condition in which a person has an unusually vivid or precise memory; the opposite of amnesia.
hypernym
A word with a broad meaning under which more specific words fall; ‘color’ is a hypernym of ‘red’.
hypertrophy
The enlargement of an organ or tissue from the increase in size of its cells, not the number of cells.
hypnagogic
Relating to the transitional state of consciousness between wakefulness and sleep.
hypnopedia
The learning of material by a person while they are asleep, or sleep-learning.
hypocorism
A pet name, nickname, or term of endearment, such as ‘Jen’ for ‘Jennifer’.
hypogeal
Located, living, or growing below the surface of the ground, like a truffle or a burrowing animal.
hypolimnion
The dense, lower layer of water in a stratified lake, which is typically cooler than the water above.
hypoplasia
The underdevelopment or incomplete development of a tissue or organ.
hypostatize
To treat or regard an abstract concept as a distinct and real substance or entity.
hypotaxis
The grammatical arrangement of clauses where one is subordinate to the other, using conjunctions like ‘when’ or ‘because’.
hypothecate
To pledge property as security or collateral for a loan without transferring possession of it.
hysteresis
The phenomenon where the effect of an external force or field lags behind its cause, especially in magnetism.
hysteron proteron
A figure of speech in which the logical or natural order of terms or events is reversed.