aitch

Aitch is the name of the eighth letter of the modern English alphabet. It corresponds to the letter H, written as H in uppercase and h in lowercase, and is used as a consonant in English and in many other languages that use the Latin script.

Pronunciation: The standard pronunciation is /eɪtʃ/ (sounds like “aytch”). A variant pronunciation, /heɪtʃ/ (“haitch”), exists in certain dialects, especially in Ireland and some parts of the United Kingdom.

Etymology: The exact origin of the English name is uncertain; the modern spelling “aitch” represents the /eɪtʃ/ pronunciation. Early forms in English show various spellings, and the “haitch” variant arose from dialectal pronunciation and spelling.

Usage: In spelling and education, “aitch” is used when reciting the alphabet or teaching spelling. The letter also appears as a symbol in science and in various abbreviations (for example, H stands for hydrogen in chemistry). The name is widely used in dictionaries and language references to identify the letter consistently across contexts.