What does hyphen mean?
A hyphen is the small horizontal mark most often used to connect words or parts of words. It appears in compound words such as “well-being,” with prefixes such as “pre-,” and in numbers such as “sixty-five.” A hyphen can also show a division between syllables or a break in a line of text, although other marks are used for those purposes in some styles. Its basic function is to make the relationship between neighboring written elements clear and to help readers parse them efficiently. The word comes from Greek hyphén, meaning “together” or “in one,” which reflects the mark’s original use for bringing two elements together. As a verb, “hyphen” refers to joining words with this mark, although “hyphenate” is more common in contemporary usage. Hyphens are especially useful in forming compound adjectives such as “interest-rate decision,” where the connection between the words affects their meaning.
A short horizontal punctuation mark used to join words or parts of words, or to indicate a division.
"A hyphen joins the two parts of “self-esteem.”"
The hyphen is shorter than an en dash or em dash and is principally used to connect or divide written elements.
To join two words or parts of words with a hyphen.
"The copy editor hyphenated “long-term” and “state-of-the-art.”"
The form “hyphenate” is more usual in modern usage.
The plural is used when referring to multiple instances of the mark or when referring to the punctuation mark itself.
"Place hyphens between the prefix and the root word."
The hyphen’s name comes from the Greek word hyphén, meaning “together” or “in one,” reflecting its original role as a mark that brought separate elements together.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hyphen come from?
The English word comes from Greek hyphén, meaning “together” or “in one,” formed from elements meaning “under” and “one.” The Greek word referred to a mark that brought separate syllables or words together, and it entered English in the 16th century. The modern verb developed alongside the noun and ultimately yielded the related forms “hyphenate” and “hyphenation.”
Related word forms
How hyphen is actually used
In standard modern English, hyphens are commonly used in compound words, prefixes attached to words, and numbers such as “twenty-one.” Their use can vary somewhat between style guides and editing conventions, especially in compounds formed with prefixes.
Easily confused with hyphen
A hyphen is specifically a short mark used to join or divide words, whereas a dash can be longer and has a broader range of uses, including indicating a break or interruption.
A hyphen joins or divides written elements, while a minus sign indicates subtraction or a negative quantity.