What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Hen vs Hes - What's the difference?

hen | hes |

As a determiner hes is

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

As a pronoun hes is

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

As a contraction hes is

.

hen

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) henne, heonne, hinne, from earlier henene, heonenen, henen, from (etyl) heonan, hionan, heonane, . See also (l).

Adverb

(en adverb)
  • (dialectal) Hence.

    • Etymology 2

    From , or a variant of hench.

    Verb

    (henn)
  • (dialectal) To throw.

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl), from (etyl) henn, .

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A female bird.
  • (specifically ) A female chicken, especially one kept for its eggs.
  • * , title=The Mirror and the Lamp
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen , the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.}}
  • (slang) A woman.
  • (informal) The woman whose impending marriage is being celebrated at a hen night.
    • Derived terms
    * henbane * hen harrier * hen party * henpecked * mother hen
    See also
    * * broody

    Anagrams

    * * 1000 English basic words ----

    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)
    • ----