him
/ˈhɪm/pronoun, noun
him is spelled H-I-M: 3 letters and one syllable. It appears 1,288 times per million words in written English, the 83rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a pronoun, him means “With dative effect or as an indirect object” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in him?
| Letters | 3: H-I-M |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 1,288 times per million words; the 83rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Sounds like |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is him?
Him appears 1,288 times per million words in written English, the 83rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce him?
- /ˈhɪm/
- /əm/
- [ɪ̈m]
Him has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-him.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with him
Sounds like: hymn (Wiktionary's homophone list; some hold only in some accents).
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of him
- hims plural
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does him mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
pronoun
- 1
With dative effect or as an indirect object.
- 2
Following a preposition.
- 3
With accusative effect or as a direct object.
- 4
colloquialAs a grammatical subject or object when joined with a conjunction.
Now him and Bernie are best friends.
- 5
Used in isolation or apposition, or (sometimes proscribed) as the complement of the copula (be).
Who was there? –Him.
- 6
archaicUsed reflexively: (to) himself.
- 7
With nominative effect: he, especially as a predicate after be, or following a preposition.
- 8
slangA person of elevated skill at a sport, game, or other activity.
Stop trying that, you're not him bro.
noun
- 1
informalA male person or animal.
I think this bird is a him, but it may be a her.
pronoun
- 1
Honorific alternative letter-case form of him, sometimes used when referring to God or another important figure who is understood from context.
pronoun
- 1
Initialism of His Imperial Majesty.
- 2
Initialism of Her Imperial Majesty.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Him in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | lui , le |
| German | ihm , ihn |
| Portuguese | lhe , o , ele , o cara, bom, bambambã |
| Spanish | le , lo , él |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does him come from?
From Middle English him, from Old English him, from Proto-Germanic *himmai (“to this, to this one”). Cognate with Saterland Frisian him (“him”), West Frisian him (“him”), Sylt North Frisian ham, höm (“him”), Dutch hem (“him”), German Low German hum, hüm, em (“him”), German ihm (“him”, dative).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).