Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

heartbreak

/ˈhɑɹt.bɹeɪk/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.39 in modern English

Syllables: heart-break
IPA: /ˈhɑɹt.bɹeɪk/

19

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Overwhelming mental anguish or grief, especially that caused by loss or disappointment.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"So while Ralph generally seems to inhabit a different, more glorious and joyful universe than everyone else here his yearning and heartbreak are eminently relateable. Ralph sometimes appears to be a magically demented sprite who has assumed the form of a boy, but he’s never been more poignantly, nakedly, movingly human than he is here."

Etymology

From heart + break. Compare heartache § Etymology.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈhɑɹt.bɹeɪk/
British English: /ˈhɑːt.bɹeɪk/

Usage

Inflected Forms

heartbreaks (plural)

Phrases

heartbreak grass break someone's heart broken heart broken-hearted

Frequently Paired Words

break someone's heart broken heart broken-hearted heartachingly heartbroken

Synonyms

broken heart grief heartache brokenheartedness

Questions

How do you pronounce heartbreak?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhɑɹt.bɹeɪk/.
What does heartbreak mean?: Overwhelming mental anguish or grief, especially that caused by loss or disappointment.
Where does heartbreak come from?: From heart + break. Compare heartache § Etymology.

How to pronounce heartbreak

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