How to pronounce ire
Say it like IRE. Ire is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IRE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- IRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of ire
- American English uses 1 syllable and British English 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: EYE-uh.
What does ire mean?
- Great anger; wrath; keen resentment.“to raise the ire of someone”
- To anger, to irritate.
Where does ire come from?
From Middle English ire, from Old French ire (“ire”), from Latin īra (“wrath, rage”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁eysh₂- (“to fall upon, act sharply”) (compare Old English ofost (“haste, zeal”), Old Norse eisa (“to race forward”), Ancient G
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with ire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ire.
Questions about saying ire
How do you pronounce ire?
Say IRE. The American pronunciation is /aɪr/. In British English it is /ˈaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ire?
Ire is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: IRE.
Is ire pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 1 syllable and British English 2. The British form is /ˈaɪə/ (EYE-uh).