cohoes: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare (Geographically specific proper noun)
UK/kəˈhəʊz/US/koʊˈhoʊz/ or /kəˈhoʊz/

Formal (Geographic/Locational), Neutral (Historical reference)

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Quick answer

What does “cohoes” mean?

A proper noun referring to a city in Albany County, New York, United States, located at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers.

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Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A proper noun referring to a city in Albany County, New York, United States, located at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers.

The name can also refer to the Cohoes Falls, a significant waterfall on the Mohawk River near the city, and historically to industries and cultural features associated with the area, particularly its 19th-century textile mills.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

The word is almost exclusively used in an American context. A British speaker would likely only encounter it in historical or geographical texts about the US.

Connotations

For Americans, it may connote local New York history, industrialization, or specific geography. For non-Americans, it carries no inherent connotation beyond being an unfamiliar place name.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in British English; low even in general American English, except within the region of upstate New York.

Grammar

How to Use “cohoes” in a Sentence

[Place] is in Cohoes.We drove through Cohoes.The history of Cohoes is fascinating.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Cohoes FallsCity of CohoesCohoes, New York
medium
historic Cohoesdowntown CohoesCohoes mills
weak
visit Cohoesnear Cohoesschool in Cohoes

Examples

Examples of “cohoes” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

  • The Cohoes industrial heritage is preserved.

American English

  • She bought a Cohoes history book.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Potential reference in historical business cases about industrial revolution and textile manufacturing.

Academic

Used in American history, geography, or industrial archaeology papers.

Everyday

Virtually non-existent unless discussing travel in upstate New York.

Technical

Might appear in geological surveys discussing the Cohoes Falls or hydrological reports on the Mohawk River.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cohoes”

Neutral

the citythe municipality

Weak

the areathe location

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cohoes”

  • Misspelling: Cohos, Cohose, Choes.
  • Mispronunciation: /ˈkoʊ.hoʊz/ (KO-hohz) instead of the correct /koʊˈhoʊz/ (koh-HOHZ).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is a very low-frequency proper noun specific to a location in New York State, USA.

The most common American pronunciation is /koʊˈhoʊz/ (koh-HOHZ), rhyming with 'go shows'. Some use /kəˈhoʊz/ (kuh-HOHZ).

It is historically known for its 19th-century textile mills and geographically for Cohoes Falls, a large waterfall on the Mohawk River.

Only attributively as an adjective when describing something from that city (e.g., Cohoes history). It is not used as a verb.

A proper noun referring to a city in Albany County, New York, United States, located at the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers.

Cohoes is usually formal (geographic/locational), neutral (historical reference) in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a COw saying 'HOE-z' while standing by some falls in New York. 'CO-HOES'.

Conceptual Metaphor

N/A (Proper noun)

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
The powerful Falls are located on the Mohawk River in New York.
Multiple Choice

What is 'Cohoes' primarily?

Practise

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Five interactive tools to remember words, train your ear, and build vocabulary in real context — drawn from this dictionary.

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