How to Pronounce Hard

To pronounce "hard", say HARD — one syllable, IPA /hɑːd/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

hard

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying hard, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

1

Syllable

4

Letters

/hɑːd/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “hard”

"hard" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with regard and disregard, if that helps it stick.

What does hard mean?

noun

  1. A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.
  2. A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.

adjective

  1. (of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.
  2. (personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

adverb

  1. (manner) With much force or effort.

    “At the intersection, bear hard left.”

  2. (manner) With difficulty.

    “His degree was hard earned.”

Synonyms

strongconfusingdifficultpuzzlingtoughtrickyintolerable

Antonyms

softeasysimplestraightforwardtrite

Hear “hard” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with hard

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

regarddisregardretardsafeguardvanguardmarredbarredavant-gardediscardjarredcourtyardshard

Related words

hardenedstifftoughseverechallengingtryingcase-hardenedseverely

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "hard"?▾

"Hard" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "hard"?▾

The IPA transcription of "hard" is /hɑːd/.

What does "hard" mean?▾

Hard: A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “hard” in the full dictionary →