2 syllables: ex, pire. Stress on pire.
ik-SPEYER
/ɪkˈspaɪɹ/
expire is pronounced ik-SPEYER (/ɪkˈspaɪɹ/). It has two syllables (ex-pire), with the stress on "pire". Expire means to come to an end or to die; more specifically, to cease or terminate in a stated or natural period. It can also mean to emit or release something, such as air or a scent, but in common usage it most often refers to the end of a period of validity or life. The term is transitive and intransitive depending on the context and is pronounced with two syllables in most varieties of English.
Expire means to come to an end or to die; more specifically, to cease or terminate in a stated or natural period. It can also mean to emit or release something, such as air or a scent, but in common usage it most often refers to the end of a period of validity or life. The term is transitive and intransitive depending on the context and is pronounced with two syllables in most varieties of English.
"Your passport will expire next year, so you should renew it."
"The contract expires at the end of June and won’t be renewed."
"The stove emitted a faint, musty odor as the old gas line expired."
Pronounce it as /ɪkˈspaɪər/ (US) or /ɪkˈspaɪə(r)/ (UK/Some AU varieties). It has two syllables with primary stress on the second:
Common errors: treating it as a single syllable or misplacing stress on the first syllable (e.g., /ˈekspɪr/). The correct is /ɪkˈspaɪər/, with the /ˈspaɪə/ portion forming a Diphthong sequence; avoid reducing the second syllable to a schwa. Also ensure the -ire is pronounced as a near-diphthong /aɪə/. Practice by isolating /ɪk/ + /ˈspaɪər/ and linking smoothly.
In US English, /ɪkˈspaɪər/ with a clear /ˈspiː/ turn into /ˈspaɪər/ related sound; the final r is pronounced before a vowel but may be less rhotic in some accents. UK English tends to have /ɪkˈspaɪə(r)/ with a non-rhotic trailing r, often a longer /ɪə/ quality. Australian English often echoes UK patterns, with a schwa-like final vowel in non-rhotic contexts; rhotics vary by speaker. Overall, stress remains on the second syllable; vowel length and r-coloring vary by rhoticity.
Two main challenges: the /ɪk/ onset followed by the /ˈspaɪə/ sequence requires a smooth glide from /s/ into /paɪ/ without breaking into separate syllables; and the final /ər/ or /ə/ vowel can be awkward depending on whether your dialect pronounces rhotics. Additionally, the /sp/ cluster in middle of the word can tempt you to insert extra vowels. Focus on keeping the diphthong /aɪə/ tight and not shortening it. Practicing the transition from /k/ to /sp/ reduces slurring.
No. 'Expire' is fully phonetic in standard speech: the initial vowel is pronounced, the consonant cluster /sp/ is audible, and the final -ire forms a diphthong /aɪə/ (or /ɪə/ in some accents). The trailing r is pronounced in rhotic varieties and not in non-rhotic. The lack of silent letters in typical pronunciations makes it a straightforward but precise two-syllable word.
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Expire comes from Old French expirer, which in turn derives from Latin exspirare, literally to breathe out. The Latin ex- means ‘out,’ while spirare means ‘to breathe.’ The sense evolved from ‘to breathe out’ to ‘to breathe out of life,’ metaphorically indicating death or a period ending. In English, expire appeared in the late 14th century with the sense of “to breathe forth, emit,” and by the 15th-16th centuries it carried the figurative sense of a period coming to an end, especially in legal or formal contexts (e.g., a contract expiring). The modern usage covers both the end of a duration (validity, tenancy) and the act of releasing air, with the former becoming dominant in everyday language. Over time, expire has also extended to non-literal endings (e.g., plans expiration, rights) as the language shifted toward formal, bureaucratic registers. The word’s rhythm and phonology remained stable, with deux syllables and a secondary stress pattern that helps distinguish it from related terms like ‘inspire’ and ‘conspire.’ First known use citations appear in medieval texts, aligning with the broader period when French and Latin-derived terms entered English legal and administrative vocabulary.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "expire" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "expire" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "expire"
-ire sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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