How to pronounce stair
Say it like STAIR. Stair 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 stair. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stair pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of stair
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STAIR.
What does stair mean?
- A single step in a staircase.
- A series of steps; a staircase.
Where does stair come from?
Cognate with Dutch steiger (“a stair, step, wharf, pier, scaffolding”), Middle Low German steiger, steir (“scaffolding”), German Low German Steiger (“a scaffold; trestle”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with stair
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stair.
Words that sound like stair
Questions about saying stair
How do you pronounce stair?
Say STAIR. The American pronunciation is /stɛr/. In British English it is /stɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stair?
Stair is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STAIR.
Is stair 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 /stɛə/ (STAIR).
What words sound the same as stair?
Stair sounds the same as stare in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.