This list includes 86 Nouns that start with H, from “habit” to “hypothesis”. Many entries are common objects and abstract concepts useful in conversation, writing, and classroom study.

Nouns that start with H are words that name people, places, things, or ideas beginning with H. They include concrete items like “hand” and abstract ideas like “hope”. Many H-nouns come from Old English or later Latin and Greek borrowings.

Below you’ll find the table with Noun, Definition, Example.

Noun: The headword as it appears in the list, so you can quickly find and recognize each entry.

Definition: A concise one-line meaning that helps you grasp the word’s common sense and classroom usage.

Example: A short natural sentence that shows typical usage so you can copy or model your own.

Nouns that start with H

NounPluralDefinitionExample
habithabitsA routine behavior that is repeated regularly.He has a bad habit of biting his nails.
hairuncountableThe fine, threadlike strands growing from the skin of mammals.She has long, beautiful brown hair.
halfhalvesOne of two equal parts into which something is divided.He cut the apple in half for them to share.
hallhallsA corridor or passageway in a building.Please wait for me down the hall by the elevator.
hamburgerhamburgersA round patty of ground beef, fried or grilled.I would like a hamburger with cheese and pickles, please.
hammerhammersA tool with a heavy head for breaking things or driving nails.He used the hammer to hang the picture on the wall.
handhandsThe end part of a person’s arm beyond the wrist.Please raise your hand if you know the correct answer.
handlehandlesThe part of an object designed to be held or operated.The handle on the coffee mug was surprisingly hot.
happinessuncountableThe state of being happy; feeling pleasure and contentment.We all search for true happiness in our own lives.
harborharborsA place on the coast where vessels may find shelter.The ships were all safe inside the calm harbor.
hardwareuncountableTools, machinery, and other durable equipment.I need to go to the hardware store for some nails.
harmuncountablePhysical or mental damage or injury.Wearing a helmet can protect you from serious harm.
harmonyuncountableThe quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.The singers’ voices joined together in perfect harmony.
harvestharvestsThe process or period of gathering in crops.The farmers are very busy during the autumn harvest.
hathatsA covering for the head, worn for warmth or fashion.She wore a big, floppy hat to the sunny beach.
hateuncountableAn intense or passionate dislike.His heart was filled with hate after the betrayal.
hazardhazardsA danger or risk.Icy roads are a major hazard for drivers in the winter.
headheadsThe upper part of the human body, containing the brain.He nodded his head in agreement with the new plan.
headacheheadachesA continuous pain in the head.I have a terrible headache from staring at the screen.
headlineheadlinesA heading at the top of an article or page.I only had time to read the headlines this morning.
healthuncountableThe state of being free from illness or injury.Eating well is very important for your overall health.
heartheartsThe muscular organ that pumps blood through the body.The doctor listened to the patient’s heart with a stethoscope.
heatuncountableThe quality of being hot; high temperature.The desert heat was intense during the middle of the day.
heavenheavensA place regarded as the home of God and angels.Many people believe their loved ones are watching from heaven.
heightheightsThe measurement of someone or something from base to top.What is the official height of Mount Everest?
helicopterhelicoptersA type of aircraft with large revolving blades.The helicopter landed on the roof of the tall hospital.
helmethelmetsA hard or padded protective hat.Always wear a helmet when you are riding your bicycle.
helpuncountableThe action of helping someone to do something.Thank you so much for all of your help today.
herbherbsAny plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring.She added fresh herbs from her garden to the pasta sauce.
heroheroesA person who is admired for their courage or achievements.The firefighter was hailed as a hero for saving the child.
hillhillsA naturally raised area of land, not as high as a mountain.We enjoyed a long walk over the rolling green hills.
hinthintsA slight or indirect indication or suggestion.Can you give me a hint to help me solve this puzzle?
historyuncountableThe study of past events.She is studying European history at the university.
hobbyhobbiesAn activity done regularly in one’s leisure time for pleasure.My favorite hobby is playing the guitar on weekends.
holeholesA hollow place in a solid body or surface.The dog dug a big hole in the middle of the yard.
holidayholidaysA day of festivity or recreation when no work is done.We are going to Spain for our summer holiday this year.
homehomesThe place where one lives permanently.There’s no place like home after a long trip.
homeworkuncountableSchoolwork that a student is required to do at home.I have to finish my math homework before I can play.
honestyuncountableThe quality of being honest; truthfulness.Honesty is a very important quality in any good friendship.
honeyuncountableA sweet, sticky fluid made by bees from nectar.I like to put a little bit of honey in my tea.
honoruncountableHigh respect; great esteem.It is a great honor to receive this prestigious award.
hookhooksA piece of metal curved to catch hold of things.Please hang your coat on the hook by the door.
hopeuncountableA feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.There is always hope, even in the most difficult situations.
horizonhorizonsThe line at which the earth’s surface and the sky appear to meet.We watched the beautiful sunset over the distant horizon.
hornhornsA hard, pointed growth on the head of an animal.The bull had two very large and dangerous horns.
horroruncountableAn intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.She watched in horror as the building began to collapse.
horsehorsesA large plant-eating domesticated mammal with a flowing mane and tail.The child learned how to ride a horse at summer camp.
hospitalhospitalsAn institution providing medical and surgical treatment for sick or injured people.The ambulance rushed the patient to the nearest hospital.
hosthostsA person who receives or entertains other people as guests.The host greeted everyone warmly at the front door.
hotelhotelsAn establishment providing accommodations, meals, and other services for travelers.We booked a room at a hotel near the city center.
hourhoursA period of time equal to sixty minutes.The meeting is scheduled to last for at least one hour.
househousesA building for human habitation.They just bought a new house in a quiet suburb.
householdhouseholdsA house and its occupants regarded as a unit.The average household uses a lot of electricity each month.
housinguncountableHouses and apartments considered collectively, especially when regarded as a social issue.The city needs more affordable housing for low-income families.
hughugsAn act of holding someone tightly in one’s arms.She gave her friend a warm hug before saying goodbye.
humanhumansA human being, a person.The documentary was about the history of early humans.
humidityuncountableThe amount of water vapor in the air.The high humidity in the summer makes the heat feel worse.
humoruncountableThe quality of being amusing or comic.He has a wonderful sense of humor and always makes me laugh.
hungeruncountableA feeling of discomfort caused by a lack of food.Many organizations work to fight hunger around the world.
hunthuntsAn act of chasing or searching for wild animals to kill.The lioness was on a hunt for her next meal.
husbandhusbandsA married man; a man in relation to his spouse.Her husband works as an engineer for a large company.
huthutsA small, simple, single-story house or shelter.The fishermen lived in a small wooden hut by the sea.
hygieneuncountableConditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease.Good personal hygiene is important for preventing the spread of germs.
hypothesishypothesesA proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence.The scientist will now test her new hypothesis with an experiment.
hailuncountablePellets of frozen rain that fall in showers.The sudden storm brought heavy wind and hail.
handbaghandbagsA small bag used by a woman to carry everyday personal items.She couldn’t find her keys inside her cluttered handbag.
handkerchiefhandkerchiefsA square of cloth or paper used for wiping one’s nose.He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty brow.
hangerhangersA shoulder-shaped frame with a hook at the top for hanging clothes.Please put your shirt on a hanger in the closet.
headquartersheadquartersThe main offices of an organization.The company’s headquarters is located in New York City.
hearinguncountableThe faculty of perceiving sounds.My grandfather’s hearing isn’t as good as it used to be.
heirheirsA person legally entitled to the property of another on that person’s death.He was the sole heir to his grandfather’s vast fortune.
hemispherehemispheresA half of a sphere; a half of the earth.Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere.
herdherdsA large group of animals, especially hoofed mammals like cattle or elephants.We saw a large herd of elephants crossing the river.
heritageuncountableProperty that is or may be inherited; an inheritance.The old building is part of the city’s cultural heritage.
hikerhikersA person who goes for long walks, especially in the country.The hikers followed the marked trail up the mountain.
highwayhighwaysA main road connecting towns or cities.We drove for hours on the open highway.
historianhistoriansAn expert in or student of history.The historian gave a lecture on ancient Roman life.
hoaxhoaxesA humorous or malicious deception.The report of an alien landing turned out to be a hoax.
hometownhometownsThe town where one was born or grew up.She enjoys visiting her family in her small hometown.
hospitalityuncountableThe friendly and generous reception of guests, visitors, or strangers.The family was well known for its wonderful hospitality.
hostagehostagesA person seized or held as security for the fulfillment of a condition.The robbers took a bank employee as a hostage.
humanityuncountableThe human race; human beings collectively.We must work together for the future of all humanity.
hunchhunchesA feeling or guess based on intuition rather than known facts.I have a hunch that it’s going to rain later today.
hurricanehurricanesA storm with a violent wind, in particular a tropical cyclone.The hurricane caused massive flooding along the entire coast.
hymnhymnsA religious song or poem of praise to God or a god.The congregation stood up to sing the final hymn.
hypeuncountableExtravagant or intensive publicity or promotion.There was a lot of hype surrounding the movie’s release.

Descriptions

habit
A countable noun. We often talk about ‘good habits’ and ‘bad habits’ or ‘breaking a habit.’ It refers to an individual’s regular practice.
hair
Usually uncountable when referring to all the hair on one’s head. It becomes countable when talking about individual strands (e.g., “There are two hairs on your shirt.”).
half
Note the irregular plural ‘halves.’ It can be used with ‘a’ or ‘an’ (a half hour) and is a core part of many fractions and measurements.
hall
Can also refer to a large room for events, like a ‘concert hall’ or ‘town hall.’ The context usually makes the meaning clear.
hamburger
A very common food item. Often shortened to ‘burger.’ It refers to the patty itself or the full sandwich in a bun.
hammer
A basic, countable noun for a common tool. Can also be used as a verb (‘to hammer a nail’).
hand
A very high-frequency noun with many idiomatic uses, such as ‘give me a hand’ (meaning ‘help me’) or ‘on the other hand’ (to show contrast).
handle
A countable noun. It can refer to physical handles (on doors, bags, tools) or abstractly to a person’s name on social media.
happiness
An abstract, uncountable noun. You cannot say ‘a happiness’ or ‘many happinesses.’ It describes an emotional state.
harbor
Often spelled ‘harbour’ in British English. It can also be used metaphorically, such as ‘to harbor a grudge,’ where it acts as a verb.
hardware
An uncountable noun referring to physical equipment. In computing, it refers to the physical components of a computer system, as opposed to the software.
harm
An abstract, uncountable noun. You don’t say ‘a harm.’ The phrase ‘do more harm than good’ is a common idiom.
harmony
An abstract noun that can refer to musical notes, colors, or social agreement. It implies a peaceful and balanced combination of elements.
harvest
Can be countable (referring to a specific season’s yield) or uncountable (referring to the general process). Also used as a verb.
hat
A simple, common, countable noun. There are many types of hats, such as a ‘baseball hat,’ ‘top hat,’ or ‘beanie.’
hate
An abstract, uncountable noun for a strong emotion. It is the opposite of ‘love.’ It’s also a very common verb (‘I hate spiders’).
hazard
A countable noun. Often used in safety contexts, such as a ‘fire hazard’ or ‘health hazard.’ It implies a potential source of danger.
head
A very common noun with many meanings. It can mean a leader (‘head of the department’) or the top part of something (‘head of the table’).
headache
A common ailment and countable noun. It is often used figuratively to mean ‘a problem’ or ‘an annoyance’ (e.g., “This project is a real headache.”).
headline
A countable noun, especially important in news and journalism. A good headline grabs the reader’s attention.
health
An abstract, uncountable noun. We talk about ‘good health’ and ‘poor health.’ You can’t say ‘a health.’
heart
A vital organ and a powerful symbol of love, emotion, and courage. Used in many idioms like ‘learn by heart’ or ‘break someone’s heart.’
heat
An uncountable noun describing a form of energy or a sensation. It can also be a verb (‘heat the soup’).
heaven
Often uncountable, but can be plural (‘the heavens’) to mean the sky. It is also used metaphorically to describe a wonderful place or experience.
height
Can be countable or uncountable depending on context. It can also refer to the highest point or a state of intensity (‘at the height of his career’).
helicopter
A common, countable noun. Often shortened informally to ‘chopper.’ It’s known for its ability to take off and land vertically.
helmet
A countable noun associated with safety in sports and certain jobs. It protects the head from injury.
help
Primarily an uncountable noun. To make it countable, you might say ‘a bit of help’ or ‘a helping hand.’ Also a very common verb.
herb
A countable noun. In American English, the ‘h’ is often silent, while in British English, it is pronounced.
hero
A countable noun. The female equivalent is ‘heroine.’ Note the plural form is ‘heroes,’ adding ‘-es.’
hill
A common, countable noun for a landform. The expression ‘over the hill’ is an idiom meaning someone is old.
hint
A countable noun. It is a small piece of information given to help someone figure something out without telling them the full answer.
history
Usually uncountable when referring to the subject. It can be countable when talking about a specific record (‘a long history of success’).
hobby
A common, countable noun. Note the plural form ‘hobbies,’ where the ‘y’ changes to ‘ies.’
hole
A simple, countable noun. It can be literal (a hole in the ground) or figurative (a hole in an argument).
holiday
A countable noun. In American English, it often refers to a single day like Christmas, while in British English, it typically means a vacation.
home
A very common noun, often with a more emotional meaning than ‘house.’ It suggests comfort, family, and belonging.
homework
An uncountable noun. You cannot say ‘a homework’ or ‘homeworks.’ You would say ‘a homework assignment’ or ‘a lot of homework.’
honesty
An abstract, uncountable noun. It is considered a virtue. The idiom ‘honesty is the best policy’ is well known.
honey
A common uncountable noun for a type of food. You can make it countable by saying ‘a jar of honey.’
honor
Often spelled ‘honour’ in British English. It can be uncountable (a sense of honor) or countable (an award or privilege).
hook
A common, countable noun. It is also used in phrases like ‘hook, line, and sinker’ (to be completely fooled) or as a verb.
hope
Usually uncountable when referring to the general feeling. It can be countable when referring to a specific wish (‘I have one hope for the future’).
horizon
A countable noun, but usually used in the singular. ‘Broaden your horizons’ is an idiom that means to expand your range of interests or knowledge.
horn
A countable noun. It can also refer to a musical instrument (a French horn) or the warning device in a car.
horror
An abstract, uncountable noun. It is also a popular genre for movies and books (‘a horror film’).
horse
A common, countable noun. Horses have been used for riding, racing, and work for thousands of years.
hospital
A common, countable noun. A key part of the healthcare system in any community.
host
A countable noun. The female equivalent is ‘hostess.’ It can also refer to a television show presenter or an organism that harbors a parasite.
hotel
A common, countable noun for a type of lodging.
hour
A very common unit of time. The ‘h’ is silent, so we use ‘an hour’ instead of ‘a hour.’
house
A very common, countable noun. A ‘house’ refers to the physical building, while a ‘home’ has a more emotional connection to the people living there.
household
A countable noun that refers to the people living together in one home. It is often used in surveys and statistics.
housing
An uncountable noun referring to buildings for people to live in. It often appears in discussions about economics and city planning.
hug
A common, countable noun that is also a verb. It is an expression of affection or comfort.
human
A countable noun, often used in scientific or formal contexts to distinguish people from animals. The word ‘person’ or ‘people’ is more common in everyday speech.
humidity
An uncountable noun used in weather forecasting. It describes the feeling of dampness or moisture in the atmosphere.
humor
Spelled ‘humour’ in British English. An abstract, uncountable noun. We talk about a ‘sense of humor’ but not ‘a humor.’
hunger
An abstract, uncountable noun. It can refer to the physical need for food or a strong desire for something (‘a hunger for knowledge’).
hunt
A countable noun that is also a common verb. It can also refer to a search for something, like a ‘job hunt.’
husband
A common, countable noun for a male spouse. The female equivalent is ‘wife.’
hut
A countable noun for a very basic dwelling. It suggests a more primitive or rustic structure than a ‘house’ or ‘cabin.’
hygiene
An important uncountable noun related to health and cleanliness. It refers to practices like hand-washing and brushing teeth.
hypothesis
A countable noun with an irregular Greek plural, ‘hypotheses.’ It is a key term in the scientific method, meaning an educated guess.
hail
An uncountable noun for a type of precipitation. Individual pellets are called ‘hailstones.’ It is also a verb.
handbag
A countable noun. In American English, ‘purse’ is often used synonymously.
handkerchief
A countable noun, often shortened to ‘hanky.’ Its plural can also be ‘handkerchieves,’ but ‘handkerchiefs’ is more common.
hanger
A common countable noun found in every wardrobe.
headquarters
A noun that looks plural but can be treated as singular or plural. Often abbreviated as HQ.
hearing
Often uncountable when referring to the sense. It can be countable when referring to a legal or official proceeding (‘a court hearing’).
heir
A countable noun. The ‘h’ is silent, so we say ‘an heir.’ The female equivalent is ‘heiress.’
hemisphere
A countable noun used in geography (dividing the Earth) and geometry. It can also refer to the two halves of the brain.
herd
A collective noun. You can say ‘a herd’ (singular) or ‘two herds’ (plural).
heritage
Usually uncountable, referring to traditions, history, and culture passed down through generations. A ‘World Heritage Site’ is a protected landmark.
hiker
A countable noun for a person who enjoys the activity of ‘hiking.’
highway
A countable noun. In the US, it refers to a major public road, especially one connecting large towns. A ‘freeway’ or ‘motorway’ are related terms.
historian
A countable noun for a person who studies and writes about the past.
hoax
A countable noun for a trick or a lie intended to deceive people, often as a joke or for malicious reasons.
hometown
A countable noun that carries a sense of nostalgia and origin. It’s the place someone considers their original home.
hospitality
An abstract, uncountable noun describing a quality or behavior. The ‘hospitality industry’ includes hotels and restaurants.
hostage
A countable noun referring to a person captured in a conflict or crime. The situation is called a ‘hostage crisis.’
humanity
An abstract, uncountable noun. It can also refer to the quality of being kind and humane (‘an act of humanity’).
hunch
A countable, informal noun for an intuitive feeling. Often used in the phrase ‘to have a hunch.’
hurricane
A countable noun for a severe type of storm that forms over tropical oceans. Also known as a ‘typhoon’ or ‘cyclone’ in other parts of the world.
hymn
A countable noun for a song sung during a religious service.
hype
An informal, uncountable noun. It suggests that the promotion is possibly greater than the actual quality of the product or event.
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