Hart vs. Heart – Difference in Meaning and Spelling

English is chocked full of homophones, words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. One of my favorite pairings is heart and hart. Sure, they sound identical, but these two words have entirely different definitions, and getting them right is essential. So, I’ll go over the difference between heart and hart and share some examples of each in sentences.

Hart vs. Heart

The noun heart refers to the muscular organ responsible for pumping blood through your circulatory system with rhythmic contractions. It’s arguably the most vital component of our bodies and holds symbolic significance in a ton of different cultures to represent love, emotion and sometimes courage.

Then there’s the term hart which is an archaic term for an adult male deer, specifically a red deer stag that’s more than five years old. It’s not a super common term you’ll find thrown around in English, but it’s used in certain literary texts.

Alternatively, when capitalized, Hart is also a common surname for many people.

How Do You Spell Heart, the Organ?

To spell the name of the organ responsible for pumping blood through our bodies, use h-e-a-r-t. But if you’re writing about a male deer, use h-a-r-t.

Hart Examples in a Sentence

• The seasoned hunter pursued the enchanted hart through the dense and dark forest, hoping to catch a glimpse of the majestic animal.
• Our family crest features a hart surrounded by swords and hangs on our wall.
• In old legends, the hart was a symbol of nobility and strength for all.
• The medieval tapestry hanging in the castle depicted a scene of knights hunting a hart in a beautiful meadow.
• I just wrote about an enchanted hart in my last fantasy.

Heart Examples in a Sentence

• The doctor told my husband he had to lower his cholesterol and exercise more if he wanted to avoid congestive heart failure or coronary heart disease.
• My sister always wore her heart on her sleeve, constantly expressing her emotions openly for everyone.
• Ellen may be small, but she does everything with her heart.
• The story of the lost puppy tugged at Jack’s heart, so he decided to adopt it then and there.
• Our city is often referred to as the heart of the province because of its central location and historical significance.
• My uncle just came out of major heart surgery but is expected to make a speedy recovery.
• With a heavy heart, I packed my things and said goodbye to my family as I embarked on a journey of self-discovery around the world.

Hart or Heart

Now you can see how mixing these two words up would completely befuddle the context of your statement. “Heart” is an organ, while “hart” is a male deer or stag. But “Hart” with a capital H is also commonly found as a last name. If you’re ever unsure, just refer back to this guide. And be sure to check out my other breakdowns on homophones like this one!