2 syllables: li, re. Stress on li.
LIR-uh
/ˈlɪɹə/
lire is pronounced LIR-uh (/ˈlɪɹə/). It has two syllables (li-re), with the stress on "li". Lire is a verb meaning to read, primarily used in French, Italian, and Romanian; in English, it appears mainly as a loanword or proper name. In French, it is pronounced with a silent final e in some forms, and the word can function as the infinitive or the present-tense form depending on context. The term also denotes a historic Italian currency unit in English-language texts. The word’s pronunciation varies across languages, making accuracy essential for effective multilingual usage.
Lire is a verb meaning to read, primarily used in French, Italian, and Romanian; in English, it appears mainly as a loanword or proper name. In French, it is pronounced with a silent final e in some forms, and the word can function as the infinitive or the present-tense form depending on context. The term also denotes a historic Italian currency unit in English-language texts. The word’s pronunciation varies across languages, making accuracy essential for effective multilingual usage.
"- En français, je vais lire ce passage aloud demain."
"- The librarian asked me to lire the catalog before choosing a book."
"- In classical contexts, scholars discussed the ancien système de lire (the old lire) as part of Italian monetary history."
In English contexts, pronounce lire as /ˈlɪər/ or /ˈlaɪər/ depending on whether you treat it as a loanword or a currency term. The core is a two-syllable distribution with primary stress on the first: LI-re. Be mindful that in Romance languages, the vowel quality shifts; for example, Italian readers typically render it as /ˈliːre/ in loan contexts, with less emphasis on a strong diphthong. In US and UK, a native-sounding version aims for /ˈlɪər/; for currency histories, you may encounter /ˈliːr/ in more formal citations. Mouth posture: start with a relaxed, slightly rounded lip for the /ɪ/ and move into a clear /ər/ or /ɛr/ depending on your anchoring vowel, finishing with a gentle, non-tentative vowel. See pronunciation notes for exact phoneme mapping below.
Common errors include treating lire as a long single vowel like 'liar' (/ˈlaɪər/), resulting in /ˈlaɪɹər/. Another pitfall is overemphasizing final consonants or turning it into a flat /lɪr/ without a second nucleus vowel. To correct, ensure you establish two syllables: first is a tense front vowel, second is a rhotacized or trailing vowel, depending on the target accent. Practice with minimal pairs and anchor the second syllable with a schwa or a clear /ɚ/ depending on your dialect. Focus on the lip rounding and the glide into the final vowel to avoid clipping or truncating the end.
US speakers typically produce /ˈlɪər/ with a rhotacized ending and a mid-to-high front vowel; UK speakers may show a slightly tenser /ˈlaɪə/ or /ˈlɪə/ depending on the speaker, with a non-rhotic tendency if the word ends the sentence. Australian pronunciation often stabilizes toward /ˈlaɪə/ or /ˈlɪə/ with vowel quality leaning toward centralized vowels and a softer rhotic cue. In all cases, avoid turning lire into a heavy monophthong; instead, maintain a clean two-syllable rhythm. IPA references: US /ˈlɪər/, UK /ˈlaɪə/ or /ˈlɪə/, AU /ˈlaɪə/ with subtle diphthong dynamics.
Three specific challenges include: 1) balancing two syllables with a subtle glide between the nucleus vowels, which many learners compress into a single syllable; 2) achieving the appropriate vowel quality for the r-colored ending in non-rhotic accents, where the final vowel can be reduced or altered; 3) managing cross-language ambiguity when borrowing, because you must decide whether to reflect the French/Italian vowel qualities (long /iː/ in Italian loan contexts) or an English approximation. The solution is careful articulation drills focusing on two distinct vowel targets and a smooth transitional glide, plus listening to native examples. IPA cues help anchor the sounds precisely.
As a unique loanword, lire’s pronunciation can vary by language context and semantics. In French loan usage meaning “to read,” you might hear it as /liːʁ/ with a brighter, longer vowel in some contexts, then shifting to a currency-oriented /lɪr/ or /ˈliːrə/ in historic Italian references. The key variation is whether you treat it as a French infinitive-like form (silent final e) or an Italian currency plural noun. Paying attention to surrounding words—whether the phrase is in a Romance-language sentence or an English scholarly quote—will guide the correct IPA.
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Lire derives from multiple language streams due to its status as a loanword in several Romance- and Latin-script languages. In French, lire comes from the Latin legere, meaning to pick, collect, or read, with the infinitive lire and the present-tense il lit. The Italian lire (lira singular) traces to the Latin libra, a unit of measure and monetary denomination, evolving into the plural lire as the currency of the Kingdom of Italy and later the Italian Republic before the euro. Romanian also adopted lire as a historic currency unit, reflecting broader Latin-rooted monetary vocabulary. The cross-pollination arises from Latin roots and medieval trade markets, where reading, currency, and literacy intersected in measuring value and textual comprehension. The earliest uses appear in Latin texts and medieval manuscripts, where legere broadened to vernacular forms; by the modern era, lire appears in law codes, financial histories, and literary quotations in multiple languages, often retaining distinct pronunciation cues in each language. The concept of lire as “to read” in French and Italian has remained stable, while the monetary lire term has diverged geographically, culminating in separate pronunciation patterns across French, Italian, and Romanian contexts. First documented uses appear in classical Latin manuscripts, with lexical evolution traceable through medieval Latin and Romance languages, culminating in contemporary multilingual usage.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lire" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lire"
-ire sounds
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