rip-ER
/ɹɪˈpɛɹ/
repair is pronounced rip-ER (/ɹɪˈpɛɹ/). Repair is a transitive verb (also a noun in certain contexts) meaning to fix or mend something that is broken or damaged. It implies restoring function or usefulness, often involving replacements or adjustments. In everyday use, it can refer to mechanical, structural, or emotional restoration, and may carry a sense of restoring integrity or appearance.
Repair is a transitive verb (also a noun in certain contexts) meaning to fix or mend something that is broken or damaged. It implies restoring function or usefulness, often involving replacements or adjustments. In everyday use, it can refer to mechanical, structural, or emotional restoration, and may carry a sense of restoring integrity or appearance.
"The mechanic will repair the car’s transmission after diagnosing the issue."
"We need to repair the leaky faucet before it causes water damage."
"The old house was repaired and repainted to preserve its charm."
Pronounce as /rɪˈpɛər/ (US) or /rɪˈpeə/ (UK). Start with a short, lax R-controlled vowel /ɪ/ as in kit, then stress the second syllable with a clear /ɛə/ or /eə/ glide into /ə/, ending with a light schwa-like sound in some dialects. The key is rising transition into the second syllable and a crisp /p/ stop before the /ɛə/ or /eə/.
Common errors: (1) Pronouncing as /ˈriːˌpær/ with a long /iː/ and broad /æ/—the second syllable should be /ɛər/ or /eə/, not /ær/. (2) Dropping the second syllable or making it too short, resulting in /ˈriː-pair/ or /ɹɪˈpeə/ with reduced stress. (3) Merging to /riˈpɪər/ with a mis-timed glide; ensure the /p/ is released clearly and the vowel glides into /ɛə/ or /eə/.
In US English, you’ll hear /rɪˈpɛər/ with rhotic /r/ and a tighter /ɛər/. UK often uses /rɪˈpeə/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and longer /eə/. Australian tends toward /ɹɪˈpeə/ or /ˈrɪˌpɛə/ with variable rhoticity; the second syllable tends to diphthongize to /eə/ or /ɛə/ depending on speaker. The main differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the second syllable.
Two main challenges: first, the second syllable requires a precise /ɛər/ or /eə/ glide which can be unfamiliar if your language has a flat vowel. Second, the /r/ and /p/ consonant sequence requires quick but distinct articulation, particularly if your language lacks an /r/ sound before a vowel or if you adjoin the /p/ with a strong plosive. Practice with minimal pairs to cement the glide and the stop sequence.
Yes. In repair, the /r/ is followed by /ɪ/ and then the /p/ with a clear stop before the /ɛə/ or /eə/. The cluster demands a precise release of /p/ and a smooth transition into the vowel glide of the second syllable. Practicing with a light pause between syllables or a quick, controlled release helps avoid blending /r/ into the /p/ and maintains accurate syllable boundaries.
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Repair comes from Middle English reparen, from Old French reparer, meaning to make ready again, to prepare, or to repair. The root repar- traces to Latin reparare, meaning to mend, restore, or rebuild, formed from re- (again) + parare (to prepare, provide). The term evolved in the sense of “making something ready again” in general use, expanding from physical repair to include restoration of function or status. In English, repair began appearing in the 14th century, with early senses tied to preparing and equipping for use. By the 15th–17th centuries, it increasingly meant fixing defects in objects and infrastructure, and by the 19th century, it also encompassed broader notions of repair work, improvisation, and maintenance. The noun form “repair” likewise emerged, denoting the act or process of fixing and the result (a repaired item). Today, repair carries both literal mechanical meanings and figurative senses (repairing trust, reputations, or systems), retaining its core sense of restoring condition and usability.
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Words that rhyme with "repair"
-are sounds
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