What is heart? Pronunciation and usage in English

heart means . Learn the correct pronunciation, how to use the word in real-life contexts with examples and easy-to-understand memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of heart

heartnoun

/hɑːt/

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "heart" in English. It's a tricky one because it's often mispronounced! Here's a breakdown:

The Correct Pronunciation:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

/hɑːrt/ (rhymes with "cart")

Let's break that down further:

ha: This is pronounced like the "ha" in "hat." It's a short, quick sound.
rt: This is pronounced with a slight "r" sound - it's not a rolled "r" like you might hear in Spanish. It's a very subtle, light "r" blend.

Common Mistakes & Why They're Wrong:

"hert" (like "hurt"): This is extremely common, but incorrect. It’s a very old pronunciation that's now considered outdated.
"hart" (like "art"): This is also incorrect – it means “stag” (a male deer).

Tips for Pronouncing It Right:

Focus on the "ha" sound: Make sure you're saying "hat" quickly.
The subtle "r" blend: Don't overemphasize the "r." It should be a very quick and light sound blending into the "a."
Listen to native speakers: The best way to get it right is to hear it. You can find examples on:
- Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/heart/ – This website provides audio pronunciations from native speakers.
- Google Translate: Type "heart" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
- YouTube: Search for "how to pronounce heart" - you'll find many videos.

To summarize: "heart" is pronounced /hɑːrt/, rhyming with "cart."

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Usage and examples with the word heart in English

Let's break down how to use the word "heart" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a detailed look, categorized for clarity:

1. Literal Heart (Anatomy & Biology)

Definition: The organ in the chest that pumps blood.
Examples:
- "He had a weak heart after the surgery."
- "Doctors examined his heart for any signs of illness."
- “My heart beats faster when I’m nervous.”

2. Heart as Emotion & Feelings (Most Common Usage)

This is where "heart" really shines. It represents love, compassion, joy, sadness, and all the emotions we experience.

Figurative Heart: This is the most frequent way you'll encounter "heart" in everyday speech and writing.
Common Phrases:
- "At heart": "He's a romantic at heart." (Meaning: genuinely, truly)
- "From the heart": "I said those words from the heart." (Meaning: sincerely, with genuine emotion)
- "Follow your heart": "Don't worry about what others think; follow your heart." (Meaning: Do what feels right to you.)
- "With all my heart": “I love you with all my heart.” (Meaning: deeply, completely)
- "A heavy heart": "She carried a heavy heart after the news." (Meaning: feeling sad or sorrowful)
- "A joyful heart": “He had a joyful heart.” (Meaning: feeling happy and cheerful.)
- "Break someone's heart": "He broke her heart." (Meaning: caused someone deep emotional pain)
- "Have a good heart": "She always helps others. She has a good heart." (Meaning: be kind, compassionate, and selfless)

3. Heart as Center or Core

Definition: The central part of something.
Examples:
- "The heart of the city is the main square." (Meaning: the most important or central part)
- "The heart of the problem is a lack of communication." (Meaning: the root cause)
- “The heart of the matter is that we need to be honest.” (Meaning: the essential point)

4. Heart as a Verb (Less Common, but Important)

"To heart": To take something seriously or to understand and accept it as true.
- “He took her advice to heart." (Meaning: He seriously considered and followed her advice).
- "She didn't take his warning to heart." (Meaning: she didn't heed his warning).

5. Heart as a Place (Less Common)

"Heartland": A region considered to be the center of a particular culture or political movement.
- “The American heartland values tradition.”

Tips for Using “Heart” Effectively:

Context is key: The meaning of "heart" depends heavily on the context of the sentence.
Figurative Language: Most of the time, you’ll be using “heart” in a non-literal, figurative sense to describe emotions.
Strong Imagery: “Heart” is a powerful word. Using it thoughtfully can add depth and emotion to your writing.

Resources for Further Learning:

Merriam-Webster Dictionary: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries: https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/heart

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Synonyms for the word heart

Idioms of the word heart

absence makes the heart grow fonder

(saying)used to say that when you are away from somebody that you love, you love them even more

at heart

used to say what somebody is really like even though they may seem to be something different

He's still a socialist at heart.

be etched on your heart/memory/mind

if something is etched on your heart, memory, etc. you remember it because it has made a strong impression on you

break somebody’s heart

to make somebody feel very unhappy

She broke his heart when she called off the engagement.
It breaks my heart to see you like this.

by heart

using only your memory

I've seen the show so often I know all the songs by heart.
She's learnt the whole speech off by heart.

a change of heart

if you have a change of heart, your attitude towards something changes, usually making you feel more friendly, helpful, etc.

Dan did not want to get married but recently he’s had a change of heart.
He said he's not coming, but he might have a change of heart.

close/dear/near to somebody’s heart

having a lot of importance and interest for somebody

cross my heart (and hope to die)

(informal)used to emphasize that you are telling the truth or will do what you promise

I saw him do it—cross my heart.

eat your heart out!

(informal)used to compare two things and say that one of them is better

Look at him dance! Eat your heart out, Fred Astaire (= he dances even better than Fred Astaire).

find it in your heart/yourself to do something

(literary)to be able or willing to do something

Can you find it in your heart to forgive her?
He couldn't find it in himself to trust anyone again.

from the (bottom of your) heart

in a way that is sincere

I beg you, from the bottom of my heart, to spare his life.
It was clearly an offer that came from the heart.
I could tell he spoke from the heart.

give somebody (fresh) heart

to make somebody feel positive, especially when they thought that they had no chance of achieving something

give your heart to somebody

to give your love to one person

have a heart!

(informal)used to ask somebody to be kind and/or reasonable

Have a heart! I’ve nowhere else to stay!

have a heart of gold

to be a very kind person

have a heart of stone

to be a person who does not show other people sympathy

have somebody’s interests at heart

to want somebody to be happy and successful even though your actions may not show this

Although he was sometimes too strict with his children, he had their best interests at heart.

have/hold a place in somebody's heart

to be very dear to somebody

He'll always have a place in my heart.

heart and soul

with a lot of energy and enthusiasm

They threw themselves heart and soul into the project.

my heart bleeds (for somebody)

(ironic)used to say that you do not feel sympathy for somebody

‘I have to go to Brazil on business.’ ‘My heart bleeds for you!’

your heart goes out to somebody

used to say that you feel a lot of sympathy for somebody

Our hearts go out to the families of the victims.

somebody’s heart is in their mouth

somebody feels nervous or frightened about something

My heart was in my mouth as I opened the envelope.

somebody’s heart is in the right place

used to say that somebody’s intentions are kind and sincere even though they sometimes do the wrong thing

your heart is not in something

used to say that you are not very interested in or enthusiastic about something

Her heart isn't in her job.

somebody’s heart leaps

used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of happiness or excitement

My heart leapt at the news.
Her heart leaped with joy.

somebody’s heart misses/skips a beat

used to say that somebody has a sudden feeling of fear, excitement, etc.

My heart missed a beat when I saw who it was.

somebody’s heart sinks

used to say that somebody suddenly feels sad or depressed about something

My heart sank when I saw how much work there was left.
She watched him go with a sinking heart.

home is where the heart is

(saying)a home is where the people you love are

in good heart

(British English)happy and cheerful

in your heart (of hearts)

if you know something in your heart, you have a strong feeling that it is true

She knew in her heart of hearts that she was making the wrong decision.
In my heart, I knew it wasn't true.

it does somebody’s heart good (to do something)

it makes somebody feel happy when they see or hear something

It does my heart good to see the old place being taken care of so well.

let your heart rule your head

to act according to what you feel rather than to what you think is sensible

lose heart

to stop hoping for something or trying to do something because you no longer feel confident

lose your heart (to somebody/something)

(formal)to fall in love with somebody/something

a man/woman after your own heart

a man/woman who likes the same things or has the same opinions as you

not have the heart (to do something)

to be unable to do something because you know that it will make somebody sad or upset

off by heart

using only your memory

She's learnt the whole speech off by heart.
I've seen the show so often I know all the songs by heart.

out of the goodness of your heart

because of kind feelings, without thinking about what advantage there will be for you

You're not telling me he offered to lend you the money out of the goodness of his heart?

pour out/open your heart to somebody

to tell somebody all your problems, feelings, etc.

Finally, he broke down in tears and poured out his heart to her.

set your heart on something | have your heart set on something

to want something very much

They’ve set their heart on a house in the country.

sick at heart

(formal)very unhappy or disappointed

sob your heart out

to cry noisily for a long time because you are very sad

She flung herself at his chest and sobbed her heart out.

steal somebody’s heart

(literary)to make somebody fall in love with you

strike fear, etc. into somebody/sb’s heart

(formal)to make somebody be afraid, etc.

The sound of gunfire struck fear into the hearts of the villagers.

take heart (from something)

to feel more positive about something, especially when you thought that you had no chance of achieving something

The government can take heart from the latest opinion polls.

take something to heart

to be very upset by something that somebody says or does

You shouldn’t take everything he says to heart.

tear at your heart | tear your heart out

(formal)to strongly affect you in an emotional way

tear/rip the heart out of something

to destroy the most important part or aspect of something

Closing the factory tore the heart out of the community.

to your heart’s content

as much as you want

a supervised play area where children can run around to their heart’s content

warm the cockles (of somebody’s heart)

(British English)to make somebody feel happy or sympathetic

Doesn’t that story just warm the cockles of your heart?

the way to somebody’s heart

the way to make somebody like or love you

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach (= by giving him good food).

wear your heart on your sleeve

to allow your feelings to be seen by other people

He’s not one to wear his heart on his sleeve.

what the eye doesn’t see (the heart doesn’t grieve over)

(saying)if a person does not know about something that they would normally think was bad, then it cannot hurt them

What does it matter if I use his flat while he’s away? What the eye doesn’t see…!

win somebody’s heart

to make somebody love you

with all your heart/your whole heart

completely

I hope with all my heart that things work out for you.
I wish you well with all my heart.

young at heart

thinking and behaving like a young person even when you are old

My father is 76 but he’s still young at heart.
He's over 70, but he's young at heart.