Hezbollah or Hizbullah?

UN Secretary-General António Guterres recently used the term 'Hizbullah' during an emergency session of the UN Security Council to refer to the armed resistance in Lebanon. However, most mainstream media opt for 'Hezbollah' instead. What’s the difference between these terms?

'Hezbollah' is the preferred spelling in most Western media when reporting on the situation in Lebanon. This is not only because it’s widely recognized but also because it follows a more common English transliteration of Arabic words. The organization’s name in Arabic is حزب الله (ḥizb Allāh), which translates to 'Party of God.'

'Hizbullah,' on the other hand, is a more phonetic transliteration, where the 'ḥ' represents the Arabic letter 'ح,' pronounced as a hard 'h.' This spelling is less common but can be found in academic or more literal translations.

Ultimately, while 'Hizbullah' may be a more precise transliteration, both terms refer to the same organization and can be used interchangeably.