ho

¹ American  

[hoh] / hoʊ /

interjection

1. (used as a call to attract attention, sometimes specially used after a word denoting a destination).

   Westward ho! Land ho!

2. (used as an exclamation of surprise or delight.)

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ho ² American  

[hoh] / hoʊ /

interjection

1. (used as a command to a horse to stop.)

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ho ³ American  

[hoh] / hoʊ /

Or hoe

noun

Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

plural

hos, hoes, ho's

1. a sexually promiscuous woman.

2. a prostitute; whore.

3. a woman.

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Ho ⁴ American  

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. holmium.

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HO ⁵ American  

[hoh] / hoʊ /

noun

1. (in police use) habitual offender.

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ho. ⁶ American  

abbreviation

1. house.

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H.O. ⁷ American  

abbreviation

1. Head Office; Home Office.

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HO ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. head office

2. government Home Office

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ho ² British  

/ həʊ /

interjection

1. Also: ho-ho.  an imitation or representation of the sound of a deep laugh

2. an exclamation used to attract attention, announce a destination, etc

   what ho!

   land ho!

   westward ho!

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Ho ³ British  

symbol

1. holmium

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ho ⁴ British  

/ həʊ /

noun

1. slang:Black a derogatory term for a woman

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ho. ⁵ British  

abbreviation

1. house

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Usage

What does ho mean? Not to be confused with hoe (the gardening tool), a ho is an offensive term for a sex worker or a promiscuous woman. Some people use the term to insult women in general while some women have reclaimed the term. What are other forms of ho?hoe

Etymology

Origin of ho¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; a natural exclamation

Origin of ho²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ho, who, from Old French ho, and Old Norse hō; see also whoa

Origin of ho³

First recorded in 1965–70; dialectal or African American Vernacular English pronunciation of whore

Example Sentences

It is this that has led Sir Keir and the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, to give Sir Olly Robbins the heave ho.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

We can hear his booming “ho, ho, ho” now.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 26, 2025

Swiping through the posts, it’s endearing to see English speakers in the comments section, asking questions like “How do you say ho is you magicallll” or “How do you say ‘ate’ in Chinese.”

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2025

The mood fluctuates between ho ho ho and ho hum.

From New York Times • Nov. 27, 2024

I didn’t feel really gung ho or anything, but I was ready to do my part.

From "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers