How to pronounce stare
Say it like STAIR. Stare 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 stare. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stare 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 stare
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STAIR.
What does stare mean?
- look at with fixed eyes“The students stared at the teacher with amazement”
- fixate one's eyes“The ancestor in the painting is staring down menacingly”
- a fixed look with eyes open wide
Where does stare come from?
Cognate with Dutch staren (“to stare”), German starren (“to stare”), German starr (“stiff”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with stare
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stare.
Words that sound like stare
Questions about saying stare
How do you pronounce stare?
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 stare?
Stare is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STAIR.
Is stare 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 stare?
Stare sounds the same as stair in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.