hittite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Academic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “hittite” mean?
An ancient Anatolian people who established an empire centered in Hattusa (modern-day Turkey), flourishing during the Bronze Age.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An ancient Anatolian people who established an empire centered in Hattusa (modern-day Turkey), flourishing during the Bronze Age.
The extinct Indo-European language spoken by this people; also refers to any member of this civilization or an artifact from it.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling.
Connotations
Identical scholarly and historical connotations.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general discourse, exclusive to academic/historical contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “hittite” in a Sentence
[the] Hittite (noun)Hittite (adjective) [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hittite” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Hittite laws provide fascinating insights into Bronze Age justice.
American English
- A Hittite seal was discovered at the excavation site.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Central term in Ancient Near Eastern studies, archaeology, and historical linguistics.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Specific reference in archaeology, epigraphy (cuneiform/hieroglyphic scripts), and comparative Indo-European linguistics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hittite”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hittite”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hittite”
- Spelling: 'Hettite' (missing one 't').
- Pronunciation: stressing the second syllable (/hɪˈtaɪt/) is less common.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the Hittites are referenced several times in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament as one of the peoples inhabiting Canaan.
Yes, distantly. Hittite is the earliest recorded language of the Indo-European family, which also includes English, Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit.
They primarily used a form of cuneiform script adapted from Mesopotamia. They also developed a hieroglyphic script for monumental inscriptions.
The Hittite Old Kingdom began around 1650 BCE, the Empire peaked around the 14th-13th centuries BCE, and it collapsed circa 1180 BCE during the Late Bronze Age collapse.
An ancient Anatolian people who established an empire centered in Hattusa (modern-day Turkey), flourishing during the Bronze Age.
Hittite is usually academic, historical in register.
Hittite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɪtʌɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɪˌtaɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HIT it big in Anatolia' – the Hittites were a major empire.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LOST WORLD (representing ancient, deciphered, but extinct civilizations).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Hittite' primarily associated with?