Learn about the difference between the homophones: haw, ha and hah

Definitions

haw

Haw is a noun that refers to a small, red fruit that grows on hawthorn trees. It can also be used as a verb meaning to utter a sound like 'haw'.

Example

The hawthorn tree was full of ripe haws.

Example

He cleared his throat with a loud haw.

ha

Ha is an exclamation used to express amusement, surprise, or triumph.

Example

Ha! That's hilarious!

Example

Ha! I knew I could do it!

hah

Hah is another exclamation used to express amusement or triumph. It is similar in meaning to ha.

Example

Hah! That was a good joke.

Example

Hah! I won the game!

Tips To Remember the Differences

Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:

To remember the difference between haw, ha, and hah, you could associate haw with the fruit, ha with laughter, and hah with a longer, drawn-out laugh.