high-five (noun) — A gesture of celebration or victory in which two people slap their hands together at shoulder height or higher.
high five sounds exactly like high-five but has a different meaning and spelling. Mixing these up is one of the most common spelling mistakes in English.
high-five
noun
A gesture of celebration or victory in which two people slap their hands together at shoulder height or higher.
high five
noun
A gesture of celebration or victory in which two people slap their hands together at shoulder height or higher.
Full definition →How to Remember the Difference
- → Focus on meaning first — once you know what each word means, the correct spelling follows naturally.
- → Write a test sentence for each word and save it as a reference.
- → When in doubt, look up the definition — if it doesn't match your sentence, switch to the homophone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a homophone of high-five?
high five is a homophone of "high-five". They sound identical when spoken but have different meanings and spellings.
What is the difference between high-five and high five?
"high-five" means: A gesture of celebration or victory in which two people slap their hands together at shoulder height or higher.. "high five" means: A gesture of celebration or victory in which two people slap their hands together at shoulder height or higher.. They sound the same but are used in completely different contexts.
What is a homophone?
A homophone is a word that sounds exactly like another word but has a different meaning and often a different spelling. Examples include "their / there / they're", "to / too / two", and "high-five / high five". Homophones are a common source of spelling and grammar mistakes.
How do I remember the difference between high-five and high five?
A good strategy is to memorize a short sentence that uses each word correctly, then recall that sentence when you are unsure. For example, focus on the meaning first — then let the spelling follow from context. Reading and writing regularly also helps these distinctions become automatic.