How to pronounce “ire”
Ire is pronounced /ˈaɪr/. It has 1 syllable. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 1 beat. It is a single beat — one vowel, said in one push of breath.
Stress pattern O — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“ire” sound by sound
“ire” is built out of 2 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
Words that rhyme with “ire”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “ire”
Each of these differs from “ire” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “ire”
- How do you pronounce “ire”?
- “ire” is pronounced /ˈaɪr/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “ire”?
- “ire” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
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