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Hem vs Hes - What's the difference?

hem | hes |

As pronouns the difference between hem and hes

is that hem is obsolete form of 'em|lang=en while hes is alternative form of lang=en when pronounced as he's; that that belongs to him.

As an interjection hem

is used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

As a noun hem

is an utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.

As a verb hem

is to make the sound expressed by the word hem; to hesitate in speaking.

As a determiner hes is

alternative form of his when pronounced as he's; belonging to him.

As a contraction hes is

alternative form of he's|lang=en.

hem

English

Etymology 1

A sound uttered in imitation of clearing the throat (onomatopoeia)

Interjection

(en-interj)!
  • Used to fill in the gap of a pause with a vocalized sound.

    • See also

    * ahem * haw

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An utterance or sound of the voice like "hem", often indicative of hesitation or doubt, sometimes used to call attention.
  • * Spectator
    • his morning hems

    Verb

    (hemm)
  • To make the sound expressed by the word hem ; to hesitate in speaking.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Hem , and stroke thy beard.
    Derived terms
    * hem and haw

    Etymology 2

    From Middle English hem, hemm, in turn from Old English hemm and related to Middle High German .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (sewing) The border of an article of clothing doubled back and stitched together to finish the edge and prevent it from fraying.
  • A rim or margin of something.
  • * Shakespeare
    • hem of the sea
  • In sheet metal design, a rim or edge folded back on itself to create a smooth edge and to increase strength or rigidity.
    • Derived terms
    * touch the hem of someone's garment

    Verb

    (hemm)
  • (in sewing) To make a hem.
  • (transitive): To put hem on an article of clothing, to edge or put a border on something.
  • (transitive): To surround something or someone in a confining way.

    • Related terms

    * hemmed * hemming * hemmer

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) hem, from (etyl) .

    Pronoun

    (English Pronouns)

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    hes

    English

    Etymology 1

    Alternative spelling of his.

    Alternative forms

    * he's * his

    Determiner

  • (his) when pronounced as he's ; belonging to him.

    • Pronoun

  • when pronounced as he's ; that that belongs to him.

    • Usage notes

    Used in some dialects to represent the (often only occasional) pronunciation of his'' as ''he's'' as both a determiner and a pronoun. Although ''his'' is almost always used, regardless of pronunciation, hes and ''he's are sometimes used.

    Etymology 2

    From he's via a reduction of the apostrophe which is, in turn, a contraction of he is and he has.

    Contraction

    (en-cont)
    • ----