How to pronounce heartbeat
Say it like HART-beet. Heartbeat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HART).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce heartbeat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HART
- beet
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Heartbeat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HARTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- beetGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of heartbeat
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAHT-beet.
What does heartbeat mean?
- the rhythmic contraction and expansion of the arteries with each beat of the heart“he could feel the beat of her heart”
- a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)“if I had the chance I'd do it in a flash”
- an animating or vital unifying force“New York is the commercial heartbeat of America”
Where does heartbeat come from?
From heart + beat.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying heartbeat
How do you pronounce heartbeat?
Say HART-beet. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɑrtˌbit/. In British English it is /ˈhɑːtˌbiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in heartbeat?
Heartbeat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HART). Broken into parts: HART · beet.
Is heartbeat 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 /ˈhɑːtˌbiːt/ (HAHT-beet).