Airs is a plural noun or verb form related to the verb air, or it can refer to visible or audible airs in the sense of manner or performances. In pronunciation contexts, it is pronounced with a long aɚ / ɛɚ vowel sequence in many dialects, often blending into a single rhotic vowel in American and some British varieties. The term typically appears in phrases like “sit in the airs” or “air the clothing,” though in US usage “airs” as a noun commonly means outward appearances or airs of behavior.
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"Her airs and graces annoyed the room, as she demanded extra attention."
"The windy airs outside made the flag flutter and snap."
"She gave off confident airs that made others hesitant to challenge her."
"The newscaster’s polished airs hid his nervousness behind a calm delivery."
Airs comes from Middle English airen, from Old English aer (nominative plural airas) meaning ‘the atmosphere, breeze’ and also sense ‘appearance, show, manner’. The word evolved to include “air” as a projection or outward display—hence “airs” for someone’s mannerisms or pretense. The plural form developed to denote multiple instances or types of outward display. In modern usage, airs frequently appear in two distinct domains: literal wind “airs” (as in breezes) and figurative displays of behavior or pretension. The semantic shift from physical atmosphere to figurative expression was reinforced during Early Modern English as social language grew more concerned with etiquette and presentation. First known written attestation traces to late medieval English, with the sense of outward appearance appearing by the 16th century in literary usage and expanding in 17th–18th centuries to cover affectation and demeanor in social discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "airs"
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Pronounce it as /ɛərz/ in US English and /eəz/ in many UK varieties; in Australian English you’ll often hear /eəz/. The word has a single stressed syllable, and the final /z/ is a voice-onset-voicing sound. Start with an open front lax vowel for /ɛ/ or /eə/ depending on dialect, glide into a rhotacized or rounded central vowel, then finish promptly with a clear /z/. In connected speech, the /r/ may influence the preceding vowel subtly, causing a smoother diphthong. IPA: US /ɛərz/, UK /eəz/, AU /eəz/.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /eɪrz/ like ‘airs’ in ‘stair’ or turning it into a pure /ɪrz/ by shortening the vowel. Another frequent mistake is adding extra syllable sounds, producing /ˈeərzɪz/ or /ˈeəɹzɪz/. To correct: keep the vowel around /ɛ/ or /eə/ without a full glide into /ɪ/ and finish with a voiced /z/. Use a tight, short /r/-influenced vowel for US and a simple /eə/ for UK. Focus on a single syllable with a crisp /z/.
US English typically rhymes with /ɛərz/ with a prominent rhotic influence and a clear /ɹ/ before the vowel sound, whereas UK English tends toward /eəz/ with less explicit rhoticity in non-rhotic dialects; Australia often sits between, with /eəz/ or /eɜːz/ depending on speaker. US speakers may have a more centralized or rounded first vowel in rapid speech, UK speakers a slightly higher beginning vowel, and AU speakers may show flatter intonation and vowel length adjustments. All keep the final /z/ sound, though voicing is consistent.
The difficulty lies in balancing a short, tense vowel with a subtle r-coloring and the final voiced /z/. In many accents the vowel quality shifts in connected speech, causing the /r/ to influence the preceding vowel, or to disappear in non-rhotic varieties. Learners often mispronounce as /eɪərz/ or forget the rhyme with /hairs/ and /dares/. Focus on producing a compact vowel before the /ɹ/ or its absence and keep the final /z/ crisp.
Airs is a straightforward single-syllable noun and verb form in most dialects; there are no silent letters. Stress falls on the sole syllable, and the word is typically unstressed in rapid sentences. The key is not to insert an extra syllable or a strong initial diphthong; keep the vowel tight and the final z voicing clear. In connected speech, you may reduce to /ɛərz/ with a light, quick end, so don’t overextend the vowel.
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