Words that Start With the Letter H for Kids
Check out our list of letter H words, letter H activities, and tips for teaching the letter H sound and words to your child.
Help your child expand their vocabulary and learn the letter H sound with these letter H words for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and elementary students. These lists of words include simple CVC words and more complex words for older children. Whether hearing the words read to them or reading the words themselves, children will have an opportunity to grow their vocabulary and understanding of the letter H sound.
Younger children will especially enjoy the letter H coloring sheet featuring images of the letter H and pictures of words that start with the letter H.
Pick and choose the words you feel are appropriate for your child, and remember that this list can be used to familiarize your child with the sound of the letter H, as a vocabulary list, or as a spelling list.
You’ll also find a definition for each letter H word and the word used in a simple sentence to help your child better understand its meaning. You can further enhance learning with our printable list of letter H words, as well as a list of letter H activities to try and tips for teaching new letters and words to your child.
Lists of Letter H Words
Select the words that you think are suitable for your child. Keep in mind that these lists of words can be used to help familiarize your child with the sound of the letter H, act as a list for vocabulary building, or be used for spelling practice. Younger children will likely need you to read the list to them.
3-Letter H Words
☐ had: past tense of have. “She had a cookie for dessert.”
☐ ham: a type of meat. “We ate baked ham for dinner.”
☐ has: possess something. “He has a new toy.”
☐ hat: a head covering. “She wears a red hat.”
☐ hay: dried grass used as animal feed. “The horse eats hay.”
☐ hem: the edge of a piece of cloth. “She will sew the hem of her new dress.”
☐ hen: a female chicken. “The hen laid an egg.”
☐ hid: past tense of hide. “She hid under the bed.”
☐ him: a pronoun for a male. “I gave him the book.”
☐ hit: to strike something. “He hit the ball with a bat.”
☐ hop: to jump on one foot. “Watch me hop across the yard.”
☐ hot: having a high temperature. “The soup is too hot to eat.”
☐ hug: to embrace with arms. “She gave her best friend a hug.”
☐ hum: to make a musical sound with your lips closed. “I like to hum while I work.”
☐ hut: a small and simple shelter. “We built a hut by the lake.”
Simple Preschool Letter H Words
☐ hand: the body part at the end of the arm. “She raised her hand in class.”
☐ he: used to refer to a male. “He went to the store.”
☐ heel: the back part of the foot below the ankle. “He had a hole in the heel of his sock.”
☐ hi: a friendly way to greet someone. “Hi, how are you?”
☐ hive: a structure where bees live. “Bees store honey in the hive.”
☐ hood: a part of a coat or jacket that covers the head. “He pulled up his hood.”
☐ hoop: a circular band or ring. “She threw the ball through the hoop.”
☐ horn: a device used to make a loud warning noise. “The car horn beeps loudly.”
☐ hose: a flexible tube for carrying water. “She watered the garden with a hose.”
Kindergarten Letter H Words
☐ hail: frozen rain. “We got caught in a sudden hail storm.”
☐ hear: to perceive sound. “I can hear the birds.”
☐ heart: the organ in your chest that pumps blood. “His heart beat fast after running.”
☐ hero: a person admired for their courage. “She was a hero for saving the puppy.”
☐ hint: a small piece of information that helps you guess an answer. “Can you give me a hint?”
☐ hiss: the sound a snake makes. “The snake will hiss if it feels threatened.”
☐ hoax: a false warning or trick. “The story turned out to be a hoax.”
☐ hoof: the hard foot of some animals like horses. “The horse’s hoof was covered in mud.”
☐ hurl: to throw something with force. “He can hurl the baseball across the field.”
☐ hurt: to cause pain. “It hurt when I fell down.”
☐ hush: to make quiet or to become quiet. “The teacher asked the class to hush.”
Elementary Letter H Words
☐ habit: a regular practice or routine. “Brushing your teeth is a good habit.”
☐ harvest: to gather crops. “Farmers harvest corn in the fall.”
☐ helicopter: an aircraft that uses rotating blades to fly. “The children watched the helicopter fly in the sky.”
☐ hemisphere: half of the Earth, especially north or south. “We live in the Northern Hemisphere.”
☐ heritage: traditions passed down from past generations. “We celebrate the heritage of our family.”
☐ history: the study of past events. “We learned about history in school.”
☐ honest: telling the truth. “Be honest when you speak.”
☐ horizon: where the sky meets the Earth or sea. “The sunrise on the horizon is beautiful.”
☐ hunger: the feeling of needing food. “Hunger made her eat quickly.”
☐ humid: containing a high amount of water or moisture in the air. “The weather is very hot and humid today.”
☐ hydroelectric: relating to electricity made by water power. “The dam provides hydroelectric power.”
☐ hygiene: practices to maintain health and prevent illness. “Good hygiene includes washing your hands.”
☐ hypothesis: a guess based on knowledge. “My hypothesis was correct.”
Food Words
☐ haddock: a type of sea fish. “Haddock is often used for fish and chips.”
☐ halibut: a large, flat fish. “Halibut is on the menu tonight.”
☐ halva: a sweet confection made from sesame seeds. “Halva is a popular treat in the Middle East.”
☐ hamburger: a sandwich consisting of a ground meat patty. “He ordered a hamburger with cheese.”
☐ hash browns: a dish of chopped fried potatoes. “Hash browns are crispy and delicious.”
☐ hazelnut: a type of nut. “Hazelnut is great in chocolate.”
☐ herb: a plant used for flavoring food. “This soup needs more herbs.”
☐ hoisin: a sweet and salty sauce used in Asian cuisine. “Hoisin sauce is used in this recipe.”
☐ honey: a sweet substance made by bees. “She likes honey on her toast.”
☐ honeydew: a type of melon. “Honeydew is sweet and refreshing.”
☐ horseradish: a strong smelling and tasting condiment made from the roots of a plant. “Horseradish adds a spicy kick.”
☐ hot dog: a cooked sausage served in a sliced bun. “I want a hot dog with mustard, please.”
☐ hummus: a spread made from chickpeas. “Hummus is good with pita bread.”
Animal Words
☐ hake: a type of marine fish. “Hake is a popular choice for seafood dishes.”
☐ hamster: a small rodent often kept as a pet. “She feeds her hamster every morning.”
☐ hare: similar to a rabbit, but larger and faster. “The hare jumped across the field.”
☐ harrier: a type of bird similar to a hawk. “The harrier glided over the plains.”
☐ hartebeest: a type of antelope with high shoulders and sloping back. “The hartebeest grazed quietly.”
☐ hawk: a bird of prey. “The hawk swooped down to catch its meal.”
☐ hedgehog: a small mammal with spiny fur. “The hedgehog curled into a ball.”
☐ hermit crab: a crab that uses empty shells for protection. “The hermit crab found a new shell.”
☐ hippopotamus: a large, mostly aquatic mammal. “The hippopotamus stays in the water to keep cool.”
☐ hornet: a type of large wasp. “The hornet built a nest in the tree.”
☐ hoopoe: a colorful bird known for its crown of feathers. “Hoopoes are rare in this area.”
☐ howler monkey: a type of monkey known for its loud howls. “The howler monkey can be heard from far away.”
☐ hyena: a wild animal known for its laughter-like sounds. “The hyena laughed in the night.”
☐ hyrax: a small, thickset, plant-eating mammal. “The hyrax climbed the rocks skillfully.”
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Object Words
☐ hammer: a tool for pounding in nails. “He used a hammer to build the fence.”
☐ handkerchief: a piece of cloth used for wiping the face or hands. “He offered her a clean handkerchief.”
☐ handle: the part of an object by which it’s held or carried. “She grabbed the handle of the pot.”
☐ harp: a large stringed musical instrument. “She played a tune on the harp.”
☐ harmonica: a small musical instrument played with the mouth. “He played blues on his harmonica.”
☐ hatch: an opening or door in a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft. “They loaded cargo through the hatch.”
☐ hearth: the floor of a fireplace. “The cat slept near the warm hearth.”
☐ heater: a device that heats a room. “The heater keeps us warm in winter.”
☐ helmet: protective headgear. “Wear a helmet on your head when riding a bike.”
☐ hinge: a joint on which a door swings open or closed. “The door’s hinges squeaked when it opened.”
☐ highlighter: a fluorescent pen used to mark text. “She used a highlighter to mark important words.”
☐ hook: a curved piece of metal used to catch or hold things. “He hung his coat on the hook.”
☐ hourglass: a device used to measure time by the flow of sand. “The hourglass marked each passing minute.”
☐ hula hoop: a large ring that people twirl around their waist. “The children played with hula hoops.”
Places Words
☐ hall: a corridor between rooms or a large room used for gatherings. “She walked down the hall to get to class.”
☐ hamlet: a small village. “They lived in a quiet hamlet.”
☐ hangar: a building where aircraft are kept and repaired. “The plane was stored in the hangar.”
☐ haven: a place of safety or refuge. “The cabin was their haven from the storm.”
☐ heliport: a landing place for helicopters. “The emergency team arrived at the heliport.”
☐ hideout: a hiding place, especially one used by bandits. “The thieves retreated to their hideout.”
☐ highway: a major road for any form of motor transport. “Traffic was slow on the highway.”
☐ homestead: a house, especially a farmhouse, and outbuildings. “Their family homestead stood for generations.”
☐ hospital: a place where sick or injured people receive care. “He visited his friend at the hospital.”
☐ hotel: a place that provides lodging for travelers. “They stayed at a hotel near the beach.”
Nature and Environment Words
☐ habitat: the natural environment of an organism. “The forest is a habitat for many animals.”
☐ harbor: a sheltered place along a shoreline where ships can anchor safely. “Fishing boats returned to the harbor.”
☐ hardwood: trees that have dense wood, such as a maple tree. “There’s a lovely hardwood forest in the park.”
☐ haze: a fog or mist. “A haze hung in the air in the morning.”
☐ headwater: the water source of a stream. “We hiked by the headwaters of the town’s many streams.”
☐hibernate: to spend the winter in a state of rest. ”Bears hibernate in the winter.”
☐ hilltop: the top of a hill. “We picnicked on the hilltop.”
☐ hurricane: a tropical storm with strong winds. “A hurricane damaged the palm trees near the beach.”
Emotions and Traits
☐ happy: feeling or showing pleasure. “She felt happy on her birthday.”
☐ harsh: unpleasantly rough. “His tone was harsh.”
☐ heartfelt: sincerely and deeply felt. “His apology was heartfelt.”
☐ hesitant: slow to act or proceed. “He was hesitant to make a decision.”
☐ hilarious: extremely funny. “The movie was hilarious.”
☐ historical: related to past events. “The historical documents were invaluable.”
☐ hopeful: feeling optimism about a future event. “She was hopeful about the new opportunity.”
☐ hopeless: feeling no hope. “He felt hopeless that he could fix his bike after many failed attempts.”
☐ humorous: something that’s funny or amusing. “His speech was humorous and engaging.”
☐ humble: not being too proud or thinking of yourself as better than others “He was humble despite his many achievements.”
☐ hurt: feeling pain or injury physically or emotionally. “She was hurt by their unkind words.”
☐ hysterical: feeling uncontrolled extreme emotion. “She became hysterical with laughter.”
☐ honorable: deserving of respect or high regard. “She led an honorable life.”
Action Words
☐ haggle: to argue over the cost of something. “He loves to haggle for a good price at the market.”
☐ halt: to stop moving or operating. “The train came to a halt at the station.”
☐ hang: to suspend something from above with no support from below. “Let’s hang the picture on the wall.”
☐ haul: to pull or drag with effort or force. “She had to haul the boat onto the beach.”
☐ heal: to become healthy again. “Her wound began to heal after a few days.”
☐ help: to provide assistance. “Can you help me tie my shoes?”
☐ hesitate: to pause before saying or doing something. “He did not hesitate to offer help.”
☐ hike: to walk a long distance, especially across country. “They hike up the mountain every summer.”
☐ hoist: to raise something with ropes and pulleys. “They hoisted the flag up the flagpole.”
☐ hone: to perfect something over a period of time. “She honed her skills as a violinist.”
☐ hover: to remain in one place in the air. “The helicopter was instructed to hover above the scene.”
☐ hustle: to move quickly. “He had to hustle to catch the bus.”
Free Printable Letter H Words Lists
Simply download and print our PDFs of the letter H word lists to review with your children. One list includes all of our letter H words and the other lists features our letter H words along with their definitions and the words used in a simple sentence.
Letter H Words with Pictures
Preschoolers and kindergarteners will appreciate having illustrations to look at while learning new letter H words. As you read the words aloud to them, draw their attention to the letter H sound as you pronounce the word. Point at the corresponding picture as you say the letter H word. You can choose from our printable letter H words with pictures to color or letter H words with illustrations.
Letter H Activities
Letter H Song:
Learning about the letter H is especially fun when it’s a song kids can listen, dance, and sing to.
Letter H Worksheets:
These free printable letter H worksheets can help children learn to recognize the letter H, say its name and the sound it makes, and start learning how to write it, too.
Letter H Crafts:
Crafting is a wonderful way to help children connect with the letter H. From designing colorful houses to crafting hippos and handprints, our Letter H Crafts spark imagination while reinforcing both letter recognition and sound.
Tips for Teaching Letter H Words
- Feel It
When saying the H sound, a small puff of air is released from your mouth. To help your child understand this, hold their hand up in front of your mouth as you make the H sound. Then have your child hold their hand up in front of their own mouth as they make the sound.
- See It
Hold up a mirror in front of your child’s face as they make the letter H sound. Because air is released from their mouth as they say the sound, they should see the mirror fog up a bit as they say it.
- Practice It
As you and your child go about your day, point out the letter H sound in the words you say, whether you’re reading a book or simply pointing to objects in your home.
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