hero
he·ro/ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/noun, verb
hero is spelled H-E-R-O: 4 letters and 2 syllables (he·ro). It appears 48 times per million words in written English, the 2,113th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, hero means “Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of hero is heroes or heros.
How many letters and syllables are in hero?
| Letters | 4: H-E-R-O |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: he·ro |
| In writing | 48 times per million words; the 2,113th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with | |
| Same letters |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is hero?
Hero appears 48 times per million words in written English, the 2,113th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce hero?
- UK /ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ/
- UK [ˈhɪə.ɹəʊ~ˈçɪə.ɹəʊ]
- US /ˈhɪɹ.oʊ/
Hero has 2 syllables, split he·ro in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-hero.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with hero?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as hero from its last stressed vowel (/ɪɹoʊ/):
Spelled with the same letters in another order: rohe.
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of hero
- heroes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- heros plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- heroing participle, present
- heroeing participle, present, rare
- heroed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does hero mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
Somebody who possesses great bravery and carries out extraordinary or noble deeds.
My mom died a hero on duty.
- 2
A role model.
- 3
The protagonist in a work of fiction.
- 4
The current player, especially a hypothetical player for example and didactic purposes. Compare: villain (“any opponent player”). Not to be confused with hero call (“a weak call against a supposed bluff”).
Let's discuss how to play if the hero has KK, and there's an ace on board.
- 5
A large sandwich made from meats and cheeses.
- 6
The product chosen from several candidates to be photographed, as in food advertising, or with props used in a movie.
- 7
The eye-catching top portion of a web page, sometimes including a hero image; the portion above the fold.
- 8
The standout component of a dish; the part of a dish that should take center stage on the palate.
verb
- 1
informalTo act as a hero (brave person; role model; or protagonist).
- 2
To praise or laud.
- 3
To bring attention to; to highlight; to spotlight.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Hero in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | héros, héroïne , protagoniste |
| German | Held, Heldin, Kriegsheld, Kriegsheldin , Hauptfigur |
| Portuguese | herói, heroína |
| Spanish | héroe, heroína |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does hero come from?
From Middle English heroes, from Old French heroes, from Latin hērōs (“hero”), from Ancient Greek ἥρως (hḗrōs, “demi-god, hero”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ser- (“to watch over, protect”); if so, related to Latin servo (“protect”). Displaced Middle English heleð, haleð, from Old English hæleþ, hæle.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).