How to pronounce repair
Say it like rih-PAIR. Repair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce repair. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- PAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Repair pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of repair
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-PAIR.
What does repair mean?
- the act of putting something in working order again
- a formal way of referring to the condition of something“the building was in good repair”
- a frequently visited place
- restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken“She repaired her TV set”“Repair my shoes please”
- make amends for; pay compensation for“One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich”“She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident”
- move, travel, or proceed toward some place“He repaired to his cabin in the woods”
Where does repair come from?
Coined between 1300 and 1350 from Middle English repairen, from Middle French reparer, from Latin reparō (“renew, repair”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with repair
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of repair.
Questions about saying repair
How do you pronounce repair?
Say rih-PAIR. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈpɛr/. In British English it is /rɪˈpɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in repair?
Repair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PAIR). Broken into parts: rih · PAIR.
Is repair 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 /rɪˈpɛə/ (rih-PAIR).