Sound-alike words
Hear vs. Here
Hear is a verb meaning to take in sounds with your ears. Here is an adverb meaning in, at or to this place. Can you hear the rain? Come over here.
| Word | Part of speech | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| hear | verb | to notice sounds with your ears, or to be told about something |
| here | adverb | in, at or to this place, or at this point |
Hear
verb: to notice sounds with your ears, or to be told about something
- I can hear the neighbors' dog barking.
- Did you hear that the library is opening on Sundays?
Here
adverb: in, at or to this place, or at this point
- Please wait here while I get the car.
- Here is the recipe I promised you.
How to remember the difference
Hear has an ear in it: you hear with your ear. Here is about place, like there and where, which also end in -ere.
Good to know
The phrase hear, hear, an old way to show agreement in a meeting or after a toast, uses hear, not here. Here, here is a common mistake.
Spot the mistake
I can't
herehear you over the music.Correct: I can't hear you over the music.
Put the boxes over
hearhere by the door.Correct: Put the boxes over here by the door.
Check yourself
Pick the word that fits each sentence.
1. Speak up so the people in the back can you.
Answer: hear. This is about sound and ears, so hear, which contains ear, fits.
2. We have lived for almost ten years.
Answer: here. This is about a place, so the adverb here fits.