How to pronounce mire
Say it like MY-er. Mire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MYSay 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 mire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MY-uh.
What does mire mean?
- Deep mud; moist, spongy earth.
- A bog or fen; (in wetland science, specifically) a peatland which is actively forming peat, such as an active bog or fen.
- An undesirable situation; a predicament.
- To cause or permit to become stuck in mud; to plunge or fix in mud.“to mire a horse or wagon”
- To sink into mud.
- To weigh down.
Where does mire come from?
From Middle English mire, a borrowing from Old Norse mýrr, from Proto-Germanic *miuzijō, whence also Swedish myr, Norwegian myr, Icelandic mýri, Dutch *mier (in placenames, for example Mierlo).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with mire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of mire.
Questions about saying mire
How do you pronounce mire?
Say MY-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈmaɪɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mire?
Mire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MY). Broken into parts: MY · er.
Is mire 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 /ˈmaɪə/ (MY-uh).