How to pronounce inquire
Say it like in-KWIRE. Inquire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWIRE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce inquire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- KWIRE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Inquire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KWIRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of inquire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-KWY.
What does inquire mean?
- To ask (about something).“May I inquire to whom I have the honor of speaking?”
- To make an inquiry or an investigation.“Police are already inquiring into the incident.”
Where does inquire come from?
From Latin inquīrō (“to seek for”), composed of in- (“in, at, on; into”) + quaerō (“to seek, look for”), of uncertain origin, but possibly from Proto-Italic *kʷaizeō, from Proto-Indo-European *kʷeh₂- (“to acquire”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with inquire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of inquire.
Questions about saying inquire
How do you pronounce inquire?
Say in-KWIRE. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/. In British English it is /ɪnˈkwaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in inquire?
Inquire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KWIRE). Broken into parts: in · KWIRE.
Is inquire 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 /ɪnˈkwaɪ/ (in-KWY).