How to pronounce pair
Say it like PAIR. Pair 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 pair. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pair pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of pair
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PAIR.
What does pair mean?
- a set of two similar things considered as a unit
- two items of the same kind
- two people considered as a unit
- form a pair or pairs“The two old friends paired off”
- bring two objects, ideas, or people together“This fact is coupled to the other one”“Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?”
- occur in pairs
Where does pair come from?
From Middle English paire, from Old French paire, from Latin paria (“equals”), neuter plural of par (“pair”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pair
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pair.
Words that sound like pair
Questions about saying pair
How do you pronounce pair?
Say PAIR. The American pronunciation is /pɛr/. In British English it is /pɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pair?
Pair is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PAIR.
Is pair 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 /pɛə/ (PAIR).
What words sound the same as pair?
Pair sounds the same as pare, pear in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.