How to pronounce spare
Say it like SPAIR. Spare 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 spare. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SPAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spare pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of spare
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SPAIR.
What does spare mean?
- refrain from harming
- save or relieve from an experience or action“I'll spare you from having to apologize formally”
- give up what is not strictly needed“he asked if they could spare one of their horses to speed his journey”
- thin and fit“the spare figure of a marathon runner”“a body kept trim by exercise”
- more than is needed, desired, or required“trying to lose excess weight”“found some extra change lying on the dresser”
- not taken up by scheduled activities“a free hour between classes”“spare time on my hands”
- an extra component of a machine or other apparatus
- an extra car wheel and tire for a four-wheel vehicle
- a score in tenpins; knocking down all ten after rolling two balls
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with spare
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spare.
Questions about saying spare
How do you pronounce spare?
Say SPAIR. The American pronunciation is /spɛr/. In British English it is /spɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spare?
Spare is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPAIR.
Is spare 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 /spɛə/ (SPAIR).