How to spell heart
A Year 3 and 4 statutory spelling word, with the tricky part explained and a tip that makes it stick.
The answer
heart
H-E-A-R-T
The part to watch: ear says "ar". The underlined letters are the ones most people get wrong.
The tricky part
Heart sounds like "hart", but the "ar" sound is spelt ear. It has ear and art inside it.
Heart is one of the words on the Year 3 and 4 list with the letters ear. The letters ear do not always say "ear". In early, earth, heard and learn they say "ur", and in heart they say "ar".
A way to remember it
You hear your heart with your ear: h, ear, t.
Heart in syllables
heart
Heart has one syllable, so learn it as a whole word.
In a sentence
Your heart pumps blood around your body.
Heart on the statutory list
Heart is on the Year 3 and 4 statutory word list in the national curriculum for England. Children are taught these words in Years 3 and 4, when they are 7 to 9.
Test yourself
A short spelling test that starts with heart, then nine more words from the Year 3 and 4 list, read aloud. It works in your browser.
More words with the letters ear
These words from the Year 3 and 4 list share the same pattern as heart.
More words
Questions parents ask
What is the difference between heart and hart?
They sound the same. Your heart pumps blood. A hart is an old word for a male deer.
Spelling is one part of the picture
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