How to pronounce misfire
Say it like MIS-fy-er. Misfire has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce misfire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MIS
- fy
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Misfire pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fyKeep this part quick and light. 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 misfire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MIS-fy-uh.
What does misfire mean?
- To fail to discharge properly.
- To fail to ignite in the proper sequence.
- To initiate an action potential without the proper stimulus.
- An act of misfiring.
- A failure.
Where does misfire come from?
Either a univerbation of earlier miss fire, or the compound mis- + fire (or possibly a confluence of both).
Questions about saying misfire
How do you pronounce misfire?
Say MIS-fy-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪsfaɪɚ/. In British English it is /ˈmɪsfaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in misfire?
Misfire has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIS). Broken into parts: MIS · fy · er.
Is misfire 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 /ˈmɪsfaɪə/ (MIS-fy-uh).