# heartache

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɑːteɪk/ · frequency rank #22,400

## Definitions
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.

## Easily confused with
- **headache** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/headache-vs-heartache)

## Common misspellings (13)
`ehartache`, `haertache`, `hearatche`, `hearrtache`, `heartacche`, `heartaceh`, `heartachhe`, `heartahce`, `heartcahe`, `hearttache`, `heatrache`, `heratache`, `hheartache`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/heartache