How to pronounce “mere”
Mere is pronounced /ˈmɪr/. 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.
The common mispronunciation of “mere”
✗ Often said: /ˈmiːr/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈmɪr/
Why the two come apart: the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “mere” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“mere” sound by sound
“mere” is built out of 3 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.
-
mClose the lips, lower the soft palate and let the voiced air come out through the nose.
-
ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
-
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.
Silent letters in “mere”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “mere”
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 “mere”
Each of these differs from “mere” 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 “mere”
- How do you pronounce “mere”?
- “mere” is pronounced /ˈmɪr/. Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “mere”?
- “mere” has 1 syllable. The stress pattern is O.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “mere”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈmiːr/, but it is actually /ˈmɪr/, because the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “mere” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
Stop looking words up one at a time
You just looked up one word. PHONO puts the IPA above every word of whatever you are reading — in your browser, in a PDF, in any app — the moment you select it. An offline pronunciation dictionary, US and UK audio, one hotkey.