Pronunciation: [hˈatən] (IPA) 
The word "hatten" is spelled with two "t's" and a silent "h". The IPA phonetic transcription for "hatten" is /ˈhatn/. The "a" is pronounced as a short "a" sound, and the double "t" represents a double-consonant sound, with a slight pause or emphasis on the second "t". The silent "h" at the beginning of the word is a common feature in Germanic languages, which means it is not pronounced but affects the sound of the following vowel.
The word "hatten" is derived from the Old English word "hǣtan" or "hǣttan", which meant "to command" or "to promise". This Old English verb later evolved into the Middle English word "haten" or "hatten", which still retained the meaning of "to command" or "to order". Over time, the meaning of "hatten" broadened, and it came to be associated with expressing a strong desire or favoring someone or something. This evolution of meaning eventually led to its usage in terms like "I had rather" or "I'd prefer". Today, "hatten" is often used in the phrase "would have" when expressing a preference or expressing a different outcome in the past.
