Language Arts What is the difference between hangar and hanger? One can be a metal building found at an airport, while the other is a device for hanging clothes. Is hanger or hangar the one to use? This article will help you know when to use hanger vs. hanger.

If we're going to convert this old hangar into a dormitory, we'll need a whole construction and decorating crew to help us: plasterer, a plumber, an electrician, a painter, a paper hanger - and that's just for starters. With all the languages that English words are drawn from, sometimes completely unrelated words coincidentally look and sound alike. Here's some help for distinguishing hangar and hanger.

Hangar

Hangar is both a transitive verb (one that takes an object) and a noun in English. As a noun, it means “a large covered storage area, especially one designed for housing and repairing aircraft.” The verb hangar was derived from the noun and means “to put or to store in a hangar.” Notice that the singular noun and the plural present indicative form of the verb are identical (hangar/hangar). Likewise, the plural noun and the singular present indicative form of the verb are identical (hangars/hangars). Here are examples of the noun and verb:

Noun: The Vermont Army National Guard has its own hangars at the Burlington Airport.

Transitive Verb: After you finish this flying lesson, it will be your responsibility to hangar the plane.

Hangar came into English through the Old French hangard, likely from a Germanic noun that meant “enclosure” or “hamlet.” It can be pronounced either /han GUHR/ or /hang GUHR/ (notice the repetition of the “g” sound in the second example).

Hanger

Hanger is a noun formed from the verb hang. In general, it refers to someone or something that hangs or something on which other items can be hung.

Someone who hangs: The paint and wallpaper store that I go to employ a paper hanger full time.

Something that hangs: I forgot the mention that the hanger is hanging on the shower rod, not in the closet.

Something on which things hang: I'm trying to decide what kind of picture hanger to use for the watercolor that Hilda gave me for my birthday.

Hang came into Modern English through Middle English, from the Old English word hangian, which means “to be suspended” or “to hang.”  Hanger is pronounced  /han GUHR/ .

Distinguishing Hangar and Hanger

Since the words can be pronounced identically, the main distinguishing feature seems to be the difference in the vowel of the last syllable: a for hangar as opposed to e for hanger. Try the mnemonic of associating hangar-with-an-a with the airplane (starting with the letter a) that is stored inside it. If you can get that idea to stick, then you will know that the other type of hanger is the one spelled with an e in the second syllable.