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Both "hiccup" and "hiccough" are correct ways to spell the sound of a diaphragm spasm. Learn the origin and history of each word and how they are used in modern English.
Spelling is not part of language, but rather writing, and has to do with education, not with regional dialects. Pronunciation of /'hɪkəp/ may vary regionally, but spelling is entirely a function of primary education, which -- in the U.S.A, anyway, is locally autonomous and independent in curriculum. – John Lawler.
Mar 8, 2024 · Learn the difference between hiccup and hiccough, two terms for the same involuntary diaphragmatic contraction. Find out why hiccup is the preferred spelling in modern English and how hiccough is used in older texts or for stylistic purposes.
Last week, someone told me I was misspelling "hiccough". I researched it in Merriam-Webster's dictionary and it implies that the noun (the actual sound) is spelled "hiccough" but the intransitive verb (the action) is spelled "hiccup". Is this correct? Why wasn't I taught this before? Doc Green
Boom. Squeak. Purr. Buzz. And then there’s “hiccup.” Or is it “hiccough”? They’re both pronounced the same, a wonderful imitation of that involuntary noise that comes from a contraction in the diaphragm and a response in the vocal chord. If you’re like me, there’s no question here.
Hiccough and hiccup are synonyms that refer to the same sudden and involuntary contraction of the diaphragm muscle, resulting in a sharp intake of breath and a characteristic 'hic' sound. The main difference between the two words is their spelling, usage, pronunciation, etymology, and medical connotation.
noun. /ˈhɪkʌp/ (also hiccough) [countable] a sharp, usually repeated, sound made in the throat, that is caused by a sudden movement of the diaphragm and that you cannot control. She gave a loud hiccup. Oxford Collocations Dictionary. Definitions on the go.
