Word 'hen' in Other Languages
- hen in Assamese অসমীয়া
- hen in Bengali বাংলা
- hen in Bodo बड़ो
- hen in Dogri डोगरी
- hen in English
- hen in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
- hen in Hindi हिन्दी
- hen in Kannada ಕನ್ನಡ
- hen in Kashmiri कॉशुर
- hen in Konkani कोंकणी
- hen in Maithili মৈথিলী
- hen in Malayalam മലയാളം
- hen in Manipuri মৈতৈলোন্
- hen in Marathi मराठी
- hen in Nepali नेपाली
- hen in Oriya ଓଡ଼ିଆ
- hen in Punjabi ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
- hen in Sanskrit संस्कृतम्
- hen in Santali
- hen in Sindhi سنڌي
- hen in Tamil தமிழ்
- hen in Telugu తెలుగు
- hen in Urdu اُردُو
Hen
Part of Speech
Noun
Pronunciation
/hɛn/
Definitions
- A female bird, especially a domestic fowl.
- In some contexts, a female of other bird species.
Usage Examples
- "The hen laid three eggs this morning."
- "A mother hen is very protective of her chicks."
Etymology
From Old English ‘hæn’, related to Old High German ‘henna’, meaning female bird.
Synonyms
- Female fowl
- Pullet (young hen)
Antonyms
- Rooster
- Cock
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| French | Poule | /pul/ |
| Spanish | Gallina | /ɡaˈʎina/ |
| German | Henne | /ˈhɛnə/ |
| Hindi | मुर्गी | /murɡiː/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 母鸡 | /mǔ jī/ |
| Japanese | 雌鶏 | /mesu niwatori/ |
| Russian | Курица | /ˈkurʲɪʦə/ |
| Arabic | دجاجة | /daʒaːʒa/ |
| Portuguese | Galinha | /ɡaˈliɲɐ/ |
| Italian | Gallina | /ɡalˈlina/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- American English: /hɛn/
- British English: /hɛn/
Historical Usage
Domesticated hens have been bred for thousands of years for their eggs and meat. Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians and Romans, raised hens for sustenance.
Cultural Nuances
In many cultures, hens symbolize motherhood and fertility. Phrases like "mother hen" describe a protective caregiver. In some traditions, hens are used in religious rituals and folklore.
More Information
Hens are an essential part of agriculture worldwide. Different breeds exist for egg-laying (layers) and meat production (broilers). Free-range and organic hen farming are gaining popularity due to ethical concerns over factory farming.