How to pronounce affair
Say it like uh-FAIR. Affair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce affair. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- FAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Affair pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- FAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of affair
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: uh-FAIR.
What does affair mean?
- a vaguely specified concern“several matters to attend to”“it is none of your affair”
- a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship
- a vaguely specified social event“the party was quite an affair”“an occasion arranged to honor the president”
Where does affair come from?
From Middle English afere, affere, from Old French afaire, from a- + faire (“to do”), from Latin ad- + facere (“to do”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with affair
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of affair.
Questions about saying affair
How do you pronounce affair?
Say uh-FAIR. The American pronunciation is /əˈfɛr/. In British English it is /əˈfɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in affair?
Affair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAIR). Broken into parts: uh · FAIR.
Is affair pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /əˈfɛə/ (uh-FAIR).