hen
B1Neutral to informal; 'hen' for the bird is neutral, but extended uses are conversational.
Definition
Meaning
An adult female chicken, kept for its eggs.
A female bird of various other species; colloquially, a woman, especially in contexts like a 'hen party'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily refers to domesticated fowl; broader usage for other female birds is often technical or in birdwatching contexts. Metaphorical use for a woman can be dated or mildly patronising.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use 'hen' for the bird identically. 'Hen night/do' (UK) vs. 'bachelorette party' (US) for a pre-wedding celebration for women. In Scotland/Northern England, 'hen' is a term of endearment.
Connotations
In Scotland, 'hen' as a term of address is warm and informal. In broader English, metaphorical use can imply fussiness or triviality (e.g., 'hen-pecked').
Frequency
Core meaning equally frequent. 'Hen party' is standard UK; rare in US. Scottish term of endearment is regionally specific.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The hens [LAY] eggs.We [KEEP] hens in the garden.The fox [ATTACKED] the hen.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “like a hen on a hot girdle”
- “madder than a wet hen”
- “hen-pecked”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in poultry farming contexts.
Academic
Used in zoology, agriculture, and animal behaviour studies.
Everyday
Common when discussing farming, food, or pre-wedding parties.
Technical
Used in ornithology and animal husbandry to specify sex and species.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She's planning to hen in Brighton for her sister's hen do.
American English
- The group henned in Nashville for the bachelorette weekend.
adjective
British English
- They went to a hen weekend in Newcastle.
American English
- She bought some hen party decorations online.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We have three hens in our garden.
- The hen lays an egg every morning.
- The fox tried to get into the hen house.
- She's organising a hen party for her friend.
- The broody hen refused to leave her nest.
- He felt utterly hen-pecked by his overbearing relatives.
- The artist used the hen as a metaphor for nurturing and fussy domesticity.
- Ornithologists noted the hen's distinctive call differed from the mainland species.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of HEN as 'Her ENergy' for laying eggs.
Conceptual Metaphor
WOMAN IS A HEN (e.g., 'mother hen', 'hen party')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'hen' directly as 'курица' in all contexts (e.g., 'hen party' is не 'вечеринка курицы', but 'девичник').
- In Scottish dialogue, 'hen' is not about the bird but means 'dear'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'chicken' to specifically mean a female bird (a chicken can be male).
- Capitalising 'hen party' unnecessarily.
Practice
Quiz
In which region is 'hen' commonly used as a casual term of endearment for a woman?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most commonly a female chicken, it can refer to the female of any bird species (e.g., 'a hen sparrow'), though this is more technical.
'Chicken' is the general species term for Gallus gallus domesticus, which includes both males (roosters) and females (hens). 'Hen' specifies an adult female.
It is a standard, neutral term in UK English for a pre-wedding celebration for women. Some may find the metaphor slightly old-fashioned, but it is not generally considered offensive.
Yes, informally, especially in UK English, meaning to participate in or organise a hen party (e.g., 'We're henning in London').