Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

heartache

/ˈhɑːteɪk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.20 in modern English

Syllables
heartache
IPA
/ˈhɑːteɪk/
17
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Emotional distress or pain, often caused by a loved one or their absence.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English heorteece, heorte-ece, from Old English heorteċe, equivalent to heart + ache. Blends both literal and figurative aspects, as emotional distress sometimes includes a physical element of chest discomfort. Compare heartbreak § Etymology, where the literal aspect is lesser, though it still can be said to have a physiological basis.

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: heorteece, heorteċe

Regional Pronunciation

  • British English: /ˈhɑːteɪk/

Usage

Inflected Forms

heartaches (plural) heart-ach (alternative, obsolete) heart-ache (alternative, archaic)

Derived Forms

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Questions

How do you pronounce heartache?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhɑːteɪk/.
What does heartache mean?
Emotional distress or pain, often caused by a loved one or their absence.
Where does heartache come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce heartache

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “heartache”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈhɑːteɪk/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “heartache”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “heartache” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.