HO Words: More Than Just a Greeting
When most people hear a word ending in HO, they think of ECHO — and fair enough, it's the most common one you'll run into during crossword puzzles. But this ending hides some genuinely useful words that trip up even experienced solvers. GAUCHO (an Argentine cowboy), HONCHO (the boss), and RANCHO (a small ranch or hut) all end in HO and show up in crosswords regularly. COHO, the silver salmon, is a four-letter crossword favorite because it packs a lot of meaning into a tight space.
One thing worth knowing: about half of English words ending in HO are borrowed from Spanish. PONCHO, GAUCHO, MACHO, NACHO — the Spanish language gave English this ending wholesale. The other half come from scattered origins. ECHO traces back to Greek mythology, while BOHO is a modern clipping of "bohemian." For Scrabble players, ABMHO (a unit of electrical conductance) is the hidden gem here. It uses common tiles and lands on the board when opponents aren't expecting it. If you're working through words ending in EH, you'll notice a similar pattern of short, punchy interjections alongside longer borrowed words.
Quick strategy tip: when a crossword clue references Latin America, food, or ranch life, try an HO ending first. Also check words ending in AH for similar vowel-heavy endings, and words ending in C for another set of borrowed-word patterns.
FAQ
What is ABMHO and is it valid in Scrabble?
ABMHO is a unit of electrical conductance (the reciprocal of an abohm). It's valid in most Scrabble dictionaries and worth 12 points base. For more unusual short words, browse words ending in EH.
Why do so many HO words come from Spanish?
Spanish words often end in the vowel O, and English borrowed many of these during centuries of contact in the Americas. The H before the O typically reflects the original Spanish spelling. You'll find similar borrowing patterns among words ending in AH, many of which come from Arabic and Hebrew.
Is COHO a good crossword word to memorize?
Absolutely. COHO (a Pacific salmon species) appears frequently in crossword grids because it has four common letters and an unusual spelling that fits tight corners. Pair it with knowledge of words starting with I and words ending in F for strong grid coverage.