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How to pronounce arrears

Say it like uh-REERZ. Arrears has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REERZ).

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Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce arrears. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/əˈrɪrz/uh-REERZ
UK British/əˈrɪəz/uh-REERZ
  • uh
  • REERZ
  • Main stress
  • Lighter stress
  • Unstressed

Arrears pronunciation, sound by sound

Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.

  1. uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
  2. REERZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.

American vs British pronunciation of arrears

  • Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.

British respelling: uh-REERZ.

What does arrears mean?

noun
  1. plural of arrear How to pronounce arrear
noun
  1. The state of having outstanding debt or liabilities.“annuities in arrears”

Words that rhyme with arrears

Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of arrears.

Questions about saying arrears

How do you pronounce arrears?

Say uh-REERZ. The American pronunciation is /əˈrɪrz/. In British English it is /əˈrɪəz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in arrears?

Arrears has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REERZ). Broken into parts: uh · REERZ.

Is arrears 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 /əˈrɪəz/ (uh-REERZ).

Pronunciation from CMUdict; meaning and origin adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).