A method for combining hotwords in a single utterance receives, at a first assistant-enabled device (AED), audio data corresponding to an utterance directed toward the first AED and a second AED among two or more AEDs where the audio data includes a query specifying an operation to perform. The method also detects, using a hotword detector, a first hotword assigned to the first AED that is different than a second hotword assigned to the second AED In response to detecting the first hotword, the method initiates processing on the audio data to determine that the audio data includes a term preceding the query that at least partially matches the second hotword assigned. Based on the at least partial match, the method executes a collaboration routine to cause the first AED and the second AED to collaborate with one another to fulfill the query.