heir
Definitions
A person legally entitled to inherit the property, title, or position of another after that person's death.
继承人；后嗣。
Root Breakdown
Native Englishheir is the worn-down Old French form of Latin hērēs ('heir'). The Latin h was lost in pronunciation, so heir is said like 'air' — the h is silent. An heir is the one who steps into a dead person's place to receive what they leave behind.
Root hered still carries 16 more wordsUsage Guide
Pronunciation trap: the h is silent — heir sounds exactly like 'air,' so you use 'an heir' (never 'a heir'). Common patterns: heir to (a throne, a fortune) and heir apparent (the heir whose right cannot be displaced). Note the silent h is inherited by heiress and heirloom too, but NOT by inherit or hereditary, where the h is pronounced.
Example Sentences
- 1.
As the eldest son, he was the heir to the family fortune.
- 2.
The prince is first in line as heir to the throne.
- 3.
She died without an heir, so the estate went to the state.
Easily Confused
heir vs successor — Both follow someone, but an heir inherits by birth or family right (an heir to the throne), while a successor takes over a role or office, often by appointment or election (the CEO's successor). You are born an heir; you are chosen a successor.