The word "hoarse" refers to a strained or rough-sounding voice commonly experienced when a person has a cold or is experiencing discomfort in their throat. The spelling of this word is not intuitive, as it contains a silent "r." Its IPA phonetic transcription is /hɔːs/ which represents the distinct sound of the "o" and "a" vowel sounds, and the voiceless "s" consonant sounds. Proper pronunciation of "hoarse" requires a soft, breathy "h" sound followed by a long "o" sound and a "s" sound without vocal cord vibration.
The word "hoarse" is an adjective used to describe the state of one's voice or sound, particularly when it is harsh, rough, and lacking clarity or smoothness. A person is said to be hoarse when their voice sounds grating, throaty, or strained. This condition is usually caused by irritation, inflammation, or swelling of the vocal cords or the surrounding structures within the throat. Hoarseness can also stem from excessive or improper use of the vocal cords, such as shouting, singing for extended periods, or speaking loudly for prolonged durations.
The sound produced when someone is hoarse may be characterized by a raspiness, huskiness, or even occasional breaks or cracking. It can be a temporary discomfort that resolves on its own within a few days, but it can also persist and indicate an underlying medical condition, such as laryngitis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), allergies, respiratory infections, or vocal cord nodules or polyps. In some cases, hoarseness might be a symptom of more serious conditions, including throat or lung cancer.
When an individual experiences hoarseness, it is often recommended to rest the voice, avoid excessive talking or yelling, and stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. In some cases, medications, voice therapy, or surgery may be necessary to address the underlying cause of the hoarseness. A visit to a healthcare professional or an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) is typically advised if hoarseness persists for an extended period or is associated with other concerning symptoms.
Having a rough, harsh voice.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Having a rough grating voice, as from a cold.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "hoarse" originated from the Old English word "hors", which means "coarse, rough" or "stubble". This term was used to describe a rough, harsh vocal sound. Over time, the "r" sound was added to the word, forming "horsr". Eventually, this pronunciation evolved into "hoarse" as we know it today, referring to a voice that is rough or harsh due to vocal strain or illness.