How to pronounce hire
Say it like HY-er. Hire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of hire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HY-uh.
What does hire mean?
- engage or hire for work“They hired two new secretaries in the department”“How many people has she employed?”
- hold under a lease or rental agreement; of goods and services
- engage for service under a term of contract“We took an apartment on a quiet street”“Let's rent a car”
- a newly hired employee“the new hires need special training”
- the act of hiring something or someone“he signed up for a week's car hire”
Where does hire come from?
Cognate with West Frisian hier (“hire”), Dutch huur (“lease, rental”), German Low German Hüür (“lease, rental”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with hire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hire.
Words that sound like hire
Questions about saying hire
How do you pronounce hire?
Say HY-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈhaɪɚ/. In British English it is /ˈhaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hire?
Hire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HY). Broken into parts: HY · er.
Is hire 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 /ˈhaɪə/ (HY-uh).
What words sound the same as hire?
Hire sounds the same as higher in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.