he

1 of 5

pronoun

ˈhē 

ē

1

: that male one who is neither speaker nor hearer

he is my father

compare him, his, it, she, they

2

—used in a generic sense or when the gender of the person is unspecified

he that hath ears to hear, let him hear

—Matthew 11:15 (King James Version)

one should do the best he can

he

2 of 5

noun (1)

ˈhē 

1

: a male person or animal

2

: one that is strongly masculine or has strong masculine appeal

—usually used in combination

that's what I call he-literature

—Sinclair Lewis

he

3 of 5

noun (2)

ˈhā 

: the 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet see Alphabet Table

He

4 of 5

symbol

helium

HE

5 of 5

abbreviation

1

Her Excellency; His Excellency

2

high efficiency

3

high explosive

4

His Eminence

Word History

Etymology

Pronoun

Middle English, from Old English hē; akin to Old English hēo she, hit it, Old High German hē he, Latin cis, citra on this side, Greek ekeinos that person

Noun (2)

Hebrew hē'

First Known Use

Pronoun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1567, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing he

• doesn't know what he's talking about
• he laughs best that laughs last
• he-man
• he who hesitates is lost
• he who laughs last, laughs best
• he who pays the piper calls the tune
• if he/she is day
• I'm/he's/she's your man
• know something or someone for what it/he/she is
• someone doesn't know what he/she is missing
• Where does he get off
• you/he/she must be joking
• you're/he's/she's joking
• you're/he's/she's on

Kids Definition

he

pronoun

(ˈ)hē,

ē

1

: that male one who is neither speaker nor hearer

he is my father

2

—used in a general sense or when the sex of the person is unknown

everyone should do the best he can

Medical Definition

He

symbol

helium