How to pronounce impair
Say it like im-PAIR. Impair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce impair. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- PAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Impair pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of impair
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: im-PAIR.
What does impair mean?
- To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
Where does impair come from?
From Middle English impairen, empeiren, from Old French empeirier, from Early Medieval Latin impeiōrāre, from in- + Late Latin peiōrāre (“worsen”), from peiōrem (“worse”), comparative of malus (“bad”).
Words that rhyme with impair
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of impair.
Questions about saying impair
How do you pronounce impair?
Say im-PAIR. The American pronunciation is /ɪmˈpɛr/. In British English it is /ɪmˈpɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in impair?
Impair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAIR). Broken into parts: im · PAIR.
Is impair 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 /ɪmˈpɛə/ (im-PAIR).