# hiss

> English word · Noun · IPA /hɪs/ · frequency rank #27,171

## Definitions
1. A sibilant sound, such as that made by a snake or escaping steam; an unvoiced fricative.
2. An expression of disapproval made using such a sound.

## Etymology
From Middle English hissen, probably of onomatopoeic origin (compare Arabic هَسْهَسَ (hashasa)). Compare Middle Dutch hissen, hisschen (“to chase away, shoo”), Middle Low German hissen (“to chase, hound, incite”).

## Easily confused with
- **hit** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hit)
- **HIV** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hiv)
- **HMS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hms)
- **Hsu** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hsu)
- **hos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hos)
- **hse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hse)
- **Hus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hus)
- **HTS** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hts)
- **HSA** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hsa)
- **Hsi** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hsi)
- **host** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-host)
- **hits** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hits)
- **hose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hose)
- **hugs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hugs)
- **hive** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hive)
- **hush** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hush)
- **hubs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hubs)
- **huts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-huts)
- **hiya** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hiya)
- **hues** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hiss-vs-hues)

## Common misspellings (3)
`hhiss`, `hsis`, `ihss`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hiss