How to pronounce hear
Say it like HEER. Hear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of hear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HEER.
What does hear mean?
- perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
- get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally“I learned that she has two grown-up children”“I see that you have been promoted”
- examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process“The jury had heard all the evidence”“The case will be tried in California”
Where does hear come from?
Cognate with North Frisian hear, hiar, hiir, hiire (“to hear”), Saterland Frisian heere, here (“to hear”), West Frisian hearre (“to hear”), Bavarian hearn (“to hear”), Central Franconian hüre (“to hear”), Cimbrian hòrran, höarn (“to hear”),
Words that rhyme with hear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hear.
Words that sound like hear
Questions about saying hear
How do you pronounce hear?
Say HEER. The American pronunciation is /hir/. In British English it is /hɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hear?
Hear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HEER.
Is hear pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /hɪə/ (HEER).
What words sound the same as hear?
Hear sounds the same as here in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.