How to pronounce hero
Say it like HIR-oh. Hero has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hero. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HIR
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hero pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of hero
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HEER-roh.
Other ways to say hero
Hero also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- HEE-roh /ˈhiroʊ/
What does hero mean?
- a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength“RAF pilots were the heroes of the Battle of Britain”
- the principal character in a play or movie or novel or poem
- someone who fights for a cause
Words that rhyme with hero
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hero.
Questions about saying hero
How do you pronounce hero?
Say HIR-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɪroʊ/. In British English it is /ˈhɪərəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hero?
Hero has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HIR). Broken into parts: HIR · oh.
Is hero pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈhɪərəʊ/ (HEER-roh).