Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

break someone's heart

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: 4.23 in modern English

Syllables: break -some-one's -heart
IPA

29

Scrabble Score

18

Letters

4

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To cause a person to feel grief, disappointment, or sadness.

Example Sentences

"Don't go breaking my heart / I couldn't if I tried / Honey if I get restless / Baby you're not that kind"
"If you break her heart, I'll break your legs."
""We're just friends," what are you sayin'? / Said "there's another," and looked right in my eyes / My first love broke my heart for the first time"
"Oh no, I was doin' better alone / But when you said "Hello" / I know that was the end of it all / I should've stayed at home / 'Cause now there ain't no letting you go / Am I falling in love / With the one that could break my heart?"

Etymology

From Middle English breke (my) harte.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Inflected Forms

breaks someone's heart (present, singular) breaking someone's heart (participle, present) broke someone's heart (past) broken someone's heart (participle, past)

Phrases

broken heart bless someone's heart win someone's heart

Frequently Paired Words

heartbreak heartbreaker heartbreaking heartbroken broken heart brokenhearted brokenheartedly brokenheartedness

Questions

What does break someone's heart mean?: To cause a person to feel grief, disappointment, or sadness.
Where does break someone's heart come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce break someone's heart

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “break someone's heart”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “break someone's heart”.
Repeat and practice — Say “break someone's heart” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.