Words Ending in AH: Where English Borrows a Breath
Say AH out loud. It's the most natural, open-mouthed sound a human can make — and words ending in -AH tend to carry that same open, expansive feel. HURRAH, HOOKAH, PARIAH, RAJAH, CHEETAH — each one ends with a breath rather than a sharp consonant stop. Most -AH words entered English from Arabic (HOOKAH, FATWA variant FATWAH), Hebrew (HALLELUJAH, TORAH, MENORAH), Hindi (RAJAH, CHEETAH, PURDAH), or Yiddish (CHUTZPAH). The -AH spelling typically preserves the original pronunciation from the source language.
In word games, the -AH ending is surprisingly productive. You've got short options like BAH, NAH, PAH, and RAH for tight spots, plus mid-length words like HOOKAH (15 points), HURRAH (12 points), and PARIAH (11 points) for better scoring. Crossword constructors reach for RAJAH, PARIAH, and HOOKAH because they're recognizable to most solvers. Player tip: when you see an A-H pattern at a word's end in a crossword, think "foreign borrowing" and work from there. The clue will usually hint at the word's cultural origin. For related borrowed-word endings, see words ending in ER or words ending in X. Puzzle enthusiasts might also enjoy words starting with ZE for more words with Semitic and Arabic roots.
FAQ
Is CHEETAH spelled with -AH because of Hindi?
Yes. CHEETAH comes from Hindi "chita," meaning "spotted one." The -AH ending preserves the final open vowel sound of the Hindi original. Many English animal names from South Asian languages follow this pattern. For other borrowed words, check words starting with Z where Arabic and Hebrew contributions cluster.
What's the difference between -A and -AH endings?
Both indicate borrowed words, but -AH words tend to come from Semitic languages (Hebrew, Arabic) while -A words come from Latin, Italian, or Spanish. MENORAH vs. ARENA, HOOKAH vs. PIAZZA. Compare the patterns at words starting with PH, another heavily borrowed pattern from Greek.