How to pronounce respire
Say it like rih-SPIRE. Respire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIRE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce respire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- SPIRE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Respire 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.
- SPIRESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of respire
- American English uses 2 syllables and British English 3.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: rih-SPY-uh.
What does respire mean?
- To breathe in and out successively.
- To recover one's breath or breathe easily following stress.
- To take up oxygen and produce carbon dioxide (as animals do), or vice versa (as plants do).
Where does respire come from?
From Middle English respiren, borrowed from Old French respirer or Latin respīrō (“to blow back, breathe out”), from re- (“back”) + spīrō (“to breathe, blow”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with respire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of respire.
Questions about saying respire
How do you pronounce respire?
Say rih-SPIRE. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈspaɪr/. In British English it is /rɪˈspaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in respire?
Respire has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPIRE). Broken into parts: rih · SPIRE.
Is respire pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 2 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /rɪˈspaɪə/ (rih-SPY-uh).