ho

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word ho. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word ho, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say ho in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word ho you have here. The definition of the word ho will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofho, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Appendix:Variations of "ho"

Translingual

Symbol

ho

  1. (international standards) ISO 639-1 language code for Hiri Motu.

English

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Middle English ho, hoo (interjection), probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call). Compare Dutch ho, German ho, Old French ho! (“hold!, halt!”).

Interjection

ho

  1. (nautical) Used to attract attention to something sighted, usually by lookouts.
    Sail ho! ― Another boat is visible!
    Land ho! ― Land is visible!
    Man ho! ― A town is visible!
  2. halloo; hey; a call to excite attention, or to give notice of approach.
  3. (rare) Said accompanying a vigorous attack.
    • 1900, Ching Foo, the Yellow Dwarf; Or the Bradys and the Opium Smokers, page 2:
      "I'll hit you again, you thief !” he cried angrily, shaking “Ho-ho-ho!” he croaked.
    • 1955, John Sack, From Here to Shimbashi - Volume 637, page 172:
      It was quite an astonishing show. Colonel Paul Malone of the U.S. Army kept thwacking away with all his might and main, shouting "Ho!"
    • 1999, Mona the Vampire, "Attack of the Living Scarecrow" (season 1, episode 1a):
      Mona: Hee! Ha! Ho! Ha! The brain buffet is closed, buddy! Take that! And this!
    • 2008, Daniel Hellmund, The Answer for Laria, page 93:
      Ho! Take that vile Foresythe!” He snapped his wrist, clicking the stick against the bowed sides of a barrel.
Translations

Noun

ho

  1. A stop; a halt; a moderation of pace.
References
  • 1996, T.F. Hoad, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Etymology, Oxford University Press, →ISBN

Etymology 2

Pronunciation spelling of whore in a non-rhotic accent with the dough-door merger, which is found in some varieties of African American Vernacular English. Compare mo (“more”), fo' (“for; four”). The noun first appears c. 1964, whereas the verb first appears c. 1972.

Alternative forms

Noun

ho (plural hos or hoes or heaux)

  2. (slang, derogatory) A whore; a sexually promiscuous woman; in general use as a highly offensive term of abuse for a woman with connotations of loose sexuality.
    Bros before hoes!
    • 2001, “Psycho”, in Toxicity, performed by Serj Tankian with System of a Down:
      So you want to see the show? You really don't have to be a ho.
    • 2006, Noire , Thug-A-Licious: An Urban Erotic Tale, New York, N.Y.: One World, Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 204:
      They was saying the jawn freaked out and called the cops cause all her sorority sistahs started ragging on her and calling her a stank ho for fucking half the basketball team.
    • 2010, Dennis Shields, God Went Fishing‎, page 69:
      "You looking for one of my ho's?" the diminutive man asked Sigmund.
      "A hoe?" Sigmund asked, wondering why the little man wished to sell him farming equipment in the city.
      "You know, a ho. A tute. A honey, A righteous bit of poontang, my brother," he said.
      "I don't follow," Sigmund said.
      "Indubitably, I means a ho, a whore. I can tell you is a player. You want a whore?" he asked.
  3. (slang, offensive) A woman in general; a bitch.
Synonyms
Derived terms
Translations

Verb

ho (third-person singular simple present hoes, present participle hoeing, simple past and past participle hoed)

  1. (transitive, intransitive, slang, vulgar) To act as a ho, to prostitute.
    • 2003 November 18, Greywolf Johnson, “Do you know any of these? <g>”, in alt.strange.days‎ (Usenet):
      She holds down a decent job during the day, but is secretly hoeing around with at least 5 different trifling men.

Etymology 3

From Middle English howe, houwe, hoȝe, from Old English hogu and hoga, from Proto-Germanic *hugô, *hugiz, *huguz (“mind, thought, understanding”), akin to Old High German hugu, hugi (Middle High German hüge), Old Saxon hugi (Middle Dutch höghe, Dutch heug), Old Norse hugr, Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌲𐍃 (hugs).

Alternative forms

Noun

ho (plural hos)

  1. (obsolete) Care, anxiety, trouble, sorrow.
    • 1567, George Turberville, “A. Sani di Cure Aunsweres”, in Heroycall Epistles of Ovid, 155v:
      Though there bee A thousand cares that heape my hoe.
    • 1798, Charlotte Turner Smith, The Young Philosopher, I. 195:
      Him that..this gentlewoman is in such a hoe about.
    • 1869-70, William Barnes, “The Widow’s House”, in Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect‎:
      But by day to the zun they must rise
      To their true lives o' tweil an' ov ho.
    • 1875, William Douglas Parish, A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect‎ (at cited word):
      I doänt see as you've any call to putt yourself in no such terrible gurt hoe over it.

Etymology 4

From Middle English howen, hoȝen, hogien, from Old English hogian, hugian, from Proto-Germanic *hugjaną. Cognate with Middle Scots huik, Old High German hucken, Old Saxon huggjan, Dutch heugen, Old Norse hyggja, Gothic 𐌷𐌿𐌲𐌾𐌰𐌽 (hugjan).

Alternative forms

Verb

ho

  1. (obsolete) To care, be anxious, to long.
    • 1787, F. Grose, Provinc. Gloss (at cited word):
      To ho for anything, to long for any thing. Berks.
    • 1847-78, J. O. Halliwell, Dict. Archaic & Provinc. Words:
      Ho...to long for anything; to be careful and anxious. West.
    • 1869-70, William Barnes, The Bells of Alderburnham, Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect:
      But still 'tis happiness to know That there's a God above us; An' he, by day an' night do ho Vor all ov us an' love us.
    • 1874, T. Hardy, Far from Madding Crowd, II. xxiii. 289:
      To ho and hanker after thik woman.
    • 1888, B. Lowsley, Gloss. Berks. Words & Phrases:
      Ho, to long for; to care greatly for.

Anagrams

Breton

Determiner

ho (requires hard mutation)

  1. your pl
    ho preudeur ― your brothers

Catalan

Etymology

Inherited from Latin hoc. Compare Occitan o and ac.

Pronunciation

Pronoun

ho (enclitic and proclitic)

  1. it (direct object); replaces the demonstrative pronouns açò, això and allò
  2. replaces an independent clause (one which could grammatically form a sentence on its own)
  3. replaces an adjective or an indefinite noun which serves as the predicate of ésser, esdevenir, estar or semblar

Usage notes

  • Ho cannot be used with either en or hi.
  • ho is the reinforced (reforçada) form of the pronoun. It is used before verbs.
    Ho sabem. ― We know that.
  • -ho is the full (plena) form of the pronoun. It is normally used after verbs.
    Puc fer-ho. ― I can do it.
    Deixa-ho. ― Leave it.

Declension

Catalan personal pronouns and clitics
strong/subject weak (direct object) weak (indirect object) possessive
singular proclitic enclitic proclitic enclitic
1st person jo, mi3 em, m’ -me, ’m em, m’ -me, ’m meu
1st person majestic1 nós ens -nos, ’ns ens -nos, ’ns nostre
2nd person tu et, t’ -te, ’t et, t’ -te, ’t teu
2nd person formal1 vós us -vos, -us us -vos, -us vostre
2nd person very formal2 vostè el, l’ -lo, ’l li -li seu
3rd person masculine ell el, l’ -lo, ’l li -li seu
3rd person feminine ella la, l’4 -la li -li seu
3rd person neuter ho -ho li -li seu
3rd person reflexive si es, s’ -se, ’s es, s’ -se, ’s seu
plural
1st person nosaltres ens -nos, ’ns ens -nos, ’ns nostre
2nd person vosaltres us -vos, -us us -vos, -us vostre
2nd person formal2 vostès els -los, ’ls els -los, ’ls seu
3rd person masculine ells els -los, ’ls els -los, ’ls seu
3rd person feminine elles les -les els -los, ’ls seu
3rd person reflexive si es, s’ -se, ’s es, s’ -se, ’s seu
adverbial
ablative/genitive en, n’ -ne, ’n
locative hi -hi
1) Behaves grammatically as plural.
2) Behaves grammatically as third person. 		3) Only as object of a preposition.
4) Not before unstressed (h)i-, (h)u-.

Derived terms

proclictic
enclictic

Chickasaw

Pronoun

ho

  1. they

Czech

Pronunciation

Pronoun

ho m or n

  1. accusative of on
    Synonym: jej
  2. accusative of ono

Danish

Interjection

ho

  1. (onomatopoeia) Signifies a hearty laugh.

See also

Esperanto

Pronunciation

Noun

ho (accusative singular ho-on, plural ho-oj, accusative plural ho-ojn)

  1. The name of the Latin-script letter H.

See also

Interjection

ho

  1. oh

See also

Finnish

Etymology

Compare Karelian ho. An interjection that is found in many languages.

Pronunciation

Interjection

ho

  1. Synonym of oho

References

  1. ^ Itkonen, Erkki, Kulonen, Ulla-Maija, editors (1992–2000), Suomen sanojen alkuperä [The origin of Finnish words]‎ (in Finnish) (online version; note: also includes other etymological sources), Helsinki: Institute for the Languages of Finland/Finnish Literature Society, →ISBN

French

Pronunciation

Interjection

ho

  1. Used by tamer to calm the animal they are taming, especially horses; whoa
    Ho ! Tout doux ! ― Whoa! Easy!
  2. Used to express surprise or shock
    Ho mon Dieu ! ― Oh my God!

Further reading

Galician

Etymology

From home (“man”).

Pronunciation

Interjection

ho!

  1. used closing the sentence to bolster the attention of the listener; emphatic
    Para, ho! ― Stop!
    Non o volvo facer! Non ho! ― I'm not doing this again! No way!

References

  • “ho” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006–2013.
  • “ho” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
  • “ho” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.

Guaraní

Pronunciation

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Verb

ho (active, intransitive, irregular)

  1. to go
    Che aháta che rógape.
    I am going home.

Conjugation

Italian

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɔ/*
  • (some parts of Central Italy) IPA(key): /ˈɔ/°
  • Rhymes: -ɔ

Verb

ho

  1. first-person singular present indicative of avere (“I have”)

References

  1. ^ ho in Luciano Canepari, Dizionario di Pronuncia Italiana (DiPI)

Japanese

Romanization

ho

  1. Rōmaji transcription of ほ
  2. Rōmaji transcription of ホ

Lower Sorbian

Preposition

ho

  1. Obsolete spelling of wó

Middle English

Etymology 1

Probably from Old Norse hó! (interjection, also, a shepherd's call).

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Interjection

ho

  1. stop, hold
Descendants
  • English: ho
  • Yola: ho
References

Etymology 2

Pronoun

ho

  1. Alternative form of who (“who”, nominative)

Etymology 3

Pronoun

ho

  1. Alternative form of he (“he”)

Etymology 4

Pronoun

ho

  1. Alternative form of heo (“she”)

Etymology 5

Pronoun

ho

  1. Alternative form of he (“they”)

Etymology 6

Noun

ho

  1. Alternative form of hough (“hough, hock”)

Etymology 7

Noun

ho

  1. Alternative form of hough (“promontory”)

Etymology 8

Noun

ho

  1. Alternative form of oo (“one”)

Muong

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Pronoun

ho

  1. (Mường Bi) I; me

Norwegian Bokmål

Etymology

From Old Norse hon.

Pronunciation

Pronoun

ho (accusative henne, genitive hennes)

  1. (nonstandard, dialectal) she (form removed with the spelling reform of 2005; superseded by hun)

Norwegian Nynorsk

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Old Norse hón, from Proto-Germanic *hēnō (compare *ainaz). Cognate with Icelandic hún, Danish hun and Swedish hon.

Alternative forms

Dialects

Pronoun

ho (accusative ho or henne, genitive hennar)

  1. she, it (third person singular, feminine)
    Ho er bestevenninna mi. ― She is my best friend.
  2. her
    Synonym: henne
    Eg ser ho. ― I see her.
Usage notes

Unlike other Scandinavian languages, Nynorsk ho is used to refer not only to feminine persons, but any feminine noun. E.g.: Boka er god. Eg likar ho. (“The book is good. I like it.”)

In some dialects, ho may precede a female given name or a difinite singular feminine noun. E.g: e(r) ho mang(e) ho klokka no? (“what time is it now?”); det er ho Stine som kjem jo! (“It is Stine who is coming (over there)!”)

See also

Norwegian Nynorsk personal pronouns
person first person second person reflexive third person
case singular singular masculine singular feminine singular neuter
nominative eg, je1 du han ho det, dat2
accusative meg deg seg han, honom2 ho, henne2 det, dat2
dative2 meg deg seg honom henne di2
genitive min din sin hans hennar, hennes1 dess3
case plural
nominative me, vi de, dokker dei
accusative oss, okk dykk, dokker seg dei, deim2
dative oss, okk dykk, dokker seg deim2
genitive vår, okkar dykkar, dokkar sin deira, deires1
1Obsolete. 2Landsmål. 3Rare or literary. Cursive forms unofficial today.


Etymology 2

Alternative forms

Noun

ho f (definite singular hoa, indefinite plural hoer, definite plural hoene)

  1. female
    Hoa legg egga oppe i eit tre. ― The female lays the eggs up in a tree.

References

Old Irish

Conjunction

ho

  1. Alternative spelling of ó

Preposition

ho

  1. Alternative spelling of ó

Orya

Noun

ho

  1. water

References

Romanian

Interjection

ho

  1. Used to calm or stop a domestic animal, especially horses; whoa.
    Ho! Ușor! ― Whoa! Easy!
  2. (vulgar) Used to calm down a person.
    Ho! Nu mai țipa ! ― Whoa! Stop screaming!

Slovak

Pronunciation

Pronoun

ho

  1. short genitive/accusative singular of on
  2. short genitive/accusative singular of ono

Synonyms

  • (long form): jeho
  • (prepositional form): neho

Swedish

Etymology 1

Noun

ho c

  1. a trough; a long container for feeding or watering animals.
  2. a sink; often mounted to a wall; especially a kitchen sink or a washing sink.
    Synonym: diskho
Declension
Declension of ho 
Singular Plural
Indefinite Definite Indefinite Definite
Nominative ho hon hoar hoarna
Genitive hos hons hoars hoarnas
Derived terms

See also

  • slasktratt (“sink (for discharging wastewater)”)

Etymology 2

See vem.

Pronoun

ho

  1. (archaic) who
    • 1541, Gustav Vasa Bible, Esaiah, 40:13-14
      Hoo vnderwisar HERRANS anda/ och hwadh rådhgiffuare lärer honom? Hwem fråghar han om rådh, then honom förstånd giffuer/ och lärer honom rettzens wägh/ och lärer honom klookheet och wijsar honom förståndzens wägh?
      (1873 edition) Ho undervisar Herrans Anda; och hvad rådgifvare lärer honom? Hvem frågar han om råd, den honom förstånd gifver, och lärer honom rättsens väg, och lärer honom klokhet, och viser honom förståndsens väg?
      Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
    Ho äst du?
    Who art thou?
Usage notes
  • In earlier Swedish, ho was the nominative case form of vem (spelt hvem), corresponding to the difference between English who and whom. Unlike in English, where the oblique form gives way to the nominative, the reverse has happened in Swedish.
Related terms

Etymology 3

See hon.

Pronoun

ho

  1. (dialectal) Alternative form of hon (“she”)

Tagalog

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

Particle

hô (Baybayin spelling ᜑᜓ)

  1. (familiar) honorific particle used while speaking to one's superior, elder, or guest
    Synonym: po
    Taga-saan naman ho kayo? ― Where are you from, sir/madam?
Usage notes
  • The word ho is used more on informal, familiar or conversational contexts than po. On some dialects, this is not observed and may even be more used than po.
Derived terms
Related terms

Etymology 2

Pronunciation

Interjection

ho (Baybayin spelling ᜑᜓ)

  1. used to stop a horse, usually repeated
See also

Further reading

  • “ho”, in Pambansang Diksiyonaryo | Diksiyonaryo.ph, Manila, 2018

Tircul

Pronunciation

Numeral

  1. 3 (three)

See also

  • (Pyu digits):           


Toba Batak

Etymology

From Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *(i-)kahu, compare Malay kau and Tetum ó.

Pronoun

ho

  1. you

Vietnamese

Etymology

From Proto-Vietic *hɔː.

Pronunciation

Verb

ho • (呼, 𤵡)

  1. to cough

Derived terms

Derived terms

Warao

Noun

ho

  1. water

Descendants

References

Yola

Etymology

From Middle English ho, from Old Norse hó.

Pronunciation

Interjection

ho

  1. ho
    • 1867, “A YOLA ZONG”, in SONGS, ETC. IN THE DIALECT OF FORTH AND BARGY, number 13, page 90:
      Ha-ho! be mee coshes, th'ast ee-pait it, co Joane;
      Hey-ho! by my conscience, you have paid it, quoth John;

Derived terms

References

  • Jacob Poole (d. 1827) (before 1828) William Barnes, editor, A Glossary, With some Pieces of Verse, of the old Dialect of the English Colony in the Baronies of Forth and Bargy, County of Wexford, Ireland, London: J. Russell Smith, published 1867, page 90

Yoruba

Omi tó ń hó

Etymology 1

Pronunciation

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Verb

hó

  1. (transitive, of liquids) to boil
  2. (intransitive, of liquids) to become gaseous, to become boiled
  3. to form bubbles or lather
  4. to roar with noise
    òkún ń hó yee; ọ̀sà ń mì lẹ̀gbẹ̀ ― The sea was roaring; the lagoon was swaying majestically
Derived terms
Related terms
  • bọ́ (“to cook in boiling water”)

Etymology 2

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Verb

hó

  1. (transitive) to peel off the skin or bark of something
    Synonym: bó
Derived terms

Zhuang

Etymology

Cognate with Bouyei hol (“garlic”).

This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.

Pronunciation

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

Noun

ho (1957–1982 spelling ho)

  1. garlic
    Synonym: suenq

Derived terms

Wikious
Boobota
Sagapedia