How to pronounce expire
Say it like ik-SPIRE. Expire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIRE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce expire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SPIRE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Expire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SPIRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of expire
- American English uses 2 syllables and British English 3.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: ik-SPY-uh.
What does expire mean?
- lose validity“My passports expired last month”
- pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life“She died from cancer”“The children perished in the fire”
- expel air“Exhale when you lift the weight”
Where does expire come from?
From Middle English expire, from Middle French expirer, from Latin expīrō, exspīrō, from ex- (“out”) + spīrō (“breathe, be alive”).
Words that rhyme with expire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of expire.
Questions about saying expire
How do you pronounce expire?
Say ik-SPIRE. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈspaɪr/. In British English it is /ɪkˈspaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in expire?
Expire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIRE). Broken into parts: ik · SPIRE.
Is expire pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 2 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /ɪkˈspaɪə/ (ik-SPY-uh).