hearts
HighNeutral
Definition
Meaning
The plural of 'heart,' referring primarily to the muscular organ that pumps blood through the body.
Can refer to the center of emotion, affection, or courage; a suit in a deck of cards; the central or most vital part of something; or a shape symbolizing love.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The plural form is often used literally to refer to multiple biological organs, but also appears in metaphorical collective contexts (e.g., 'winning hearts and minds') and in the names of games (e.g., 'Hearts').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related words may differ (e.g., 'center' vs. 'centre').
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + hearts (e.g., win hearts, capture hearts)hearts + [verb] (e.g., hearts beat, hearts sank)[adjective] + hearts (e.g., tender hearts)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “young at heart”
- “cross my heart and hope to die”
- “wear your heart on your sleeve”
- “have a change of heart”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'The new campaign aims to win the hearts of consumers.'
Academic
'The study examined the transplant success rates in paediatric hearts.'
Everyday
'Our hearts were pounding after the climb.'
Technical
'The surgeon examined the donor hearts for viability.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He hearts that new song on the radio.
American English
- She totally hearts that actor.
adjective
British English
- It was a hearts moment when the community came together.
American English
- They played a hearts game after dinner.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Dogs have hearts.
- I drew two hearts on the card.
- Their hearts beat fast during the film.
- We need to consider the hearts and minds of the public.
- The surgeon specialises in operating on children's hearts.
- The charity's message resonated in the hearts of many.
- The politician's rhetoric failed to capture the electorate's hearts.
- A comparative analysis of mammalian hearts reveals significant adaptive variations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HEARTS = How Emotions Are Really Transmitted Systemically.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HEART IS A CONTAINER FOR EMOTIONS (e.g., 'My heart is full of joy.'), THE HEART IS THE CENTRE OF A SYSTEM (e.g., 'the heart of the city').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'сердца' (serdtsa) in the sense of 'playing cards suit'—context is identical, so no trap.
- In idioms, direct translation often fails (e.g., 'learn by heart' = 'учить наизусть', not literally involving the heart).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'heart' as a non-count noun in plural contexts (e.g., *'three heart' instead of 'three hearts').
- Misspelling as 'heards'.
- Confusing 'hearts' (plural noun) with 'heart's' (possessive).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'hearts' used metaphorically?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, informally, primarily in digital communication (e.g., 'I heart that photo') meaning to like or love. It is derived from the 'I ♥ NY' campaign.
'Hearts' (capitalised) is the name of a specific trick-taking card game. The lowercase 'heart' refers to one card of that suit.
No, 'hearts' is grammatically plural. For singular, use 'heart'. However, the game 'Hearts' and idioms like 'hearts and minds' treat it as a collective concept.
The main difference is the rhoticity. In American English, the 'r' is pronounced (/hɑːrts/), while in British Received Pronunciation, it is not (/hɑːts/). The vowel quality may also vary slightly.