Hear vs Here: Which One Do You Need?
To hear is to receive sound. Here is this place.
Can you hear me? Come over here.
The test that settles it
Hear contains ear, and that is what you do it with.
“I cannot ___ you” → sound, so hear.
“put it ___” → a place, so here.
Hear: to perceive sound
A verb, and an irregular one: hear — heard — heard. It also means to receive news, and in law to try a case.
Did you hear that?
I heard from her yesterday.
The case will be heard in March.
Are ears involved, even figuratively? Then hear.
Here: in this place
An adverb of place, and it also opens sentences: here is the problem.
Sign here, please.
Here is the list you asked for.
We have been here before.
Swap in in this place. If it works, here.
Side by side
| Hear | Here |
|---|---|
| To receive sound | This place |
| Verb | Adverb |
| Contains ear | Contains ere, an old word for before |
| Can you hear? | Over here |
The exception
The expression of agreement is hear, hear — short for hear him, hear him, from parliamentary debate. Not here, here, though that spelling is very common.
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I did not here you. | I did not hear you. | Sound. |
| Come hear. | Come here. | A place. |
| Here, here! | Hear, hear! | From hear him. |
| a hearing aid / a hering aid | a hearing aid | Built on hear. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- Can anyone ___ that noise?
- Leave your coat ___.
- I ___ they are moving.
- ___ comes the bus.
- The court will ___ evidence tomorrow.
Show the answers
1. hear 2. here 3. hear 4. Here 5. hear
Frequently asked
Why is this one so common?
The words are exact homophones and both are extremely frequent, so autopilot typing catches almost everyone at some point.
Is hither related to here?
Yes — it is the old word for to this place, now archaic outside phrases like hither and thither.
More words people confuse
