# How do you pronounce height? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 6, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908 "2024-04-06T01:13:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/1 "2024-04-06T01:13:39Z")
**strong text** ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/2 "2024-04-06T01:18:15Z")
HUYT? What are you asking here? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/3 "2024-04-06T02:01:37Z")
It depends on context. > That box’s color is black and its height is 24 inches. is pronounced HITE-th. > What is the height of that airplane? is pronounced HITE. I can’t quite articulate my decision rule, but I _think_ it hinges on whether the attribute is inherent or contingent. I do know it’s unconscious and highly consistent and repeatable. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/4 "2024-04-06T02:04:52Z")
Tall (Kidding, I suppose this is a thingy about the _th )_ ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/5 "2024-04-06T02:06:05Z")
Height rhymes with kite. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/6 "2024-04-06T02:12:49Z")
According to [here](https://www.grammarerrors.com/pronunciation/height-pronounced-heighth/#:~:text=The%20mispronunciation%20of%20height%20as,t%20and%20not%20a%20th.), saying it was a _th_ at the end is a mispronunciation. > [@](#): > > The mispronunciation of _height_ as _heighth_ (with a _th_ , rather than a _t_ , sound at the end of the word) probably stems from the tendency to confuse it with similar words dealing with dimension, such as _length_ , _width_ , _depth_ , and _breadth_ . However, _height_ is like the word _weight_ in that it ends with only a _t_ and not a _th_ . ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/7 "2024-04-06T02:24:39Z")
I would say I said “hite.” But sometimes I do say the word “heighth” if I’m talking about the number–in informal contexts. So same thing as @LSLGuy, but I say that “heighth” is a separate word, and one I would avoid in even slightly formal contexts–similar to how I don’t say “fixin’ to.” ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/8 "2024-04-06T03:35:44Z")
Sorry guys, heighth is not a word. Not spelled or pronounced that way. Just because we have the words ‘wide’ and ‘width’ doesn’t mean we have corresponding words ‘high’ and ‘heighth’, it’s just ‘high’ and ‘height’. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/9 "2024-04-06T04:39:48Z")
You should pronounce it “he 'ight”, like the phrase meaning “this gentleman, he’s okay”. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/10 "2024-04-06T10:43:34Z")
To rhyme with kite. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/11 "2024-04-06T11:16:06Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > You should pronounce it “he 'ight”, like the phrase meaning “this gentleman, he’s okay”. Ha! Good one. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/12 "2024-04-06T12:44:26Z")
I say Hite but sometimes add _th_to the end too. Asphalt. I say as-phalt When I moved to Michigan everyone said ash-phalt, even the guy who drove truck for Reith Reilly. No it’s as-phalt! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/13 "2024-04-06T13:25:37Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sorry guys, heighth is not a word. Yeah, this. OP, were you looking at the “height” vs “heighth” distinction, or something else? If that’s what you were interested in, a poll might be appropriate: **How do you pronounce “height”?** _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/13))_ ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/14 "2024-04-06T13:30:12Z")
Wide → Width Long → Length Deep → Depth High → Height (pronounced “Hite”, to rhyme with “Kite”) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/15 "2024-04-06T13:42:01Z")
Ah! I didn’t realize some people pronounced it with a “th” at the end. I likely have not been paying close attention. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/16 "2024-04-06T18:02:46Z")
Same here. Never knew it was a thing. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/17 "2024-04-06T18:27:08Z")
This came up long long ago when I was developing a 2D graphic design system. All the graphic objects had ‘height’ and ‘width’ properties. Apparently many people say ‘heighth’ with that ‘th’ at end. Extensive research during more than one lunch break concluded that people are just following the convention @pjd illustrated below. Sometimes they’re aware ‘heighth’ is not a word but don’t realize they’re saying it. > [@pjd](#): > > Wide → Width > Long → Length > Deep → Depth > High → Height (pronounced “Hite”, to rhyme with “Kite”) ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/18 "2024-04-06T21:27:13Z")
If many people say it, then it’s a word. That’s how words happen. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/19 "2024-04-06T22:00:33Z")
Sure, but regional alternate pronunciations, assuming this is one, seldom become accepted words of their own. Even though many people use them, they never become national words. In New York, "For example, “huge” becomes “yooge,” “better” transforms into “beddah” and “already” is pronounced as “ah-ready.” Nor is the Pittsburghian word “yinz” meaning “y’all” a word even though it’s been around forever. Height pronounced as heighth isn’t likely to become a word. First, an alternate pronunciation isn’t really a new word. Second, like 95% of us here, I’ve never heard anyone using that pronunciation. Many people aren’t saying it. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2024, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908/20 "2024-04-06T22:04:38Z")
I’ve never said ‘height’ with a th-sound at the end. If the tendency to do so is regional in the US, that would be interesting to know. And what about the UK and Commonwealth nations? Now I’m interested! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-height/999908.md?page=2)