heartache

/ˈhɑːteɪk/

//ˈhɑːteɪk// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"heartache" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“heartache” has 13 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #22,400. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#22,400
frequency rank, English
23,837
“H” headwords
13
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Emotional distress or pain, often caused by a loved one or their absence.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

heartache vs headache
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for heartache
PropertyValue
Headwordheartache
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈhɑːteɪk/
Letters9
Frequency rank#22,400
Misspellings tracked13
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “heartache” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). heartache lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 13 spelling variants around heartache (IPA /ˈhɑːteɪk/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #22,400 among 23,837 “H” headwords. Dominant gloss: "Emotional distress or pain, often caused by a loved one or their absence.".

Our generated misspelling index lists 13 likely wrong-spelling variants for heartache, with forms such as "ehartache", "haertache", and "hearatche". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "headache", where similar look or sound leads writers to substitute one word for another in context.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English heorteece, heorte-ece, from Old English heorteċe, equivalent to heart + ache. Blends both literal and figurative aspects, as emotional distress sometimes includes a physical element of chest discomfort. Compare heartbreak § Etymology, wh… The correct English form is heartache, spelled H-E-A-R-T-A-C-H-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    Emotional distress or pain, often caused by a loved one or their absence.

Etymology

From Middle English heorteece, heorte-ece, from Old English heorteċe, equivalent to heart + ache. Blends both literal and figurative aspects, as emotional distress sometimes includes a physical element of chest discomfort. Compare heartbreak § Etymology, where the literal aspect is lesser, though it still can be said to have a physiological basis.

This word in other languages

angustia(Español)chagrin d'amour(Français)Herzenskummer(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • ehartache
  • haertache
  • hearatche
  • hearrtache
  • heartacche
  • heartaceh
  • heartachhe
  • heartahce
  • heartcahe
  • hearttache
  • heatrache
  • heratache
  • hheartache

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of heartache - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

ehartache2haertache2hearatche2hearrtache1heartacche1heartaceh2heartachhe1heartahce2
Edit distance from "heartache"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "heartache"?
"heartache" is spelled H-E-A-R-T-A-C-H-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈhɑːteɪk/.
What does "heartache" mean?
As a noun, "heartache" means: Emotional distress or pain, often caused by a loved one or their absence.
What words are commonly confused with "heartache"?
"heartache" is commonly confused with "headache". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "heartache"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "heartache" is /ˈhɑːteɪk/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "heartache"?
From Middle English heorteece, heorte-ece, from Old English heorteċe, equivalent to heart + ache. Blends both literal and figurative aspects, as emotional distress sometimes includes a physical element of chest discomfort. Compare heartbreak § Ety... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “heartache”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is H-E-A-R-T-A-C-H-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈhɑːteɪk/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “headache” - see the side-by-side comparison. heartache vs headache
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list