/ɹɪˈpɛɹz/
Say it backRepairs refers to actions taken to fix or restore something that is damaged or not functioning properly. It can also describe the process of mending or renovating to restore original condition or extend usability. The noun or verb form is pronounced with a stress pattern that emphasizes the root syllable, and is commonly used in technical, maintenance, or everyday repair contexts.
Tip: Use minimal pairs like repair vs repays to hear subtle differences; practice with a mirror to monitor lip shapes; speed up slowly from slow, to normal, to fast while maintaining accuracy.
"The city announced repairs to the old bridge will begin next month."
"You need to repairs the faucet, or it will leak further."
"He makes small repairs around the house on weekends."
Pronounce it as /rɪˈpɛərz/ in most US and UK contexts, with a stressed second syllable. The first syllable uses a short, slightly lax /ɪ/ followed by a crisp /ˈp/ onset; the second syllable centers on /ɛə/ (a mid-open front vowel with a glide) before the final /z/ voiced sibilant. Mouth position: keep the jaw relatively closed for /ɪ/, then open the jaw and relax the lips into /ɛə/ for the second syllable, finishing with a clear /z/. Listen for the slight vowel dip in the second syllable; you may hear /ˈpɛəz/ in some accents.
Common mistakes include flattening the second syllable to /pærz/ or misplacing the stress as /ˌriˈpɛrz/ or /riːˈpɛrz/. Another frequent error is pronouncing the second syllable with a long /e/ as in 'pears' instead of the correct /ɛə/ vowel combination. To correct, keep the primary stress on the second syllable and ensure the /r/-like glide before the /z/ is soft, not silent, and avoid turning /ə/ into a schwa that drags into /ɪ/. Practice the two-syllable rhythm: re-PAIRS, with crisp final /z/.
In US and UK accents, the second syllable centers on a rhotacized or rhoticized vowel: US often /r/ rhoticity before a vowel, yielding /rɪˈpɛəz/ with a pronounced /r/ before the vowel or a linking /r/ in some dialects. UK tends to a non-rhotic realization in some varieties, producing /rɪˈpeəz/ with a weaker or silent /r/ and a longer /eə/ glide. Australian tends to a more vowel-reduced first syllable and a smooth /ə/ to /eə/ transition, often /ˈrɪˈpɪəz/ or /ɹɪˈpeəz/. The key is the second-syllable diphthong quality and the presence or absence of rhoticity. IPA guides: US /rɪˈpɛərz/; UK /rɪˈpeəz/; AU /ɹɪˈpæːəz/ (varies by speaker).
The challenge lies in the second syllable’s diphthong and the seamless transition from the /p/ stop into the gliding /ɛə/ or /eə/ vowel, plus the final /z/ that must be voiced and not devoiced. The root /r/ in the onset of the second syllable can be tricky for non-rhotic speakers, and the cluster /pɪ/ vs /pɛə/ requires precise tongue positioning and timing. The word also demands a short, unstressed first syllable with a faster rhythm around the stressed second syllable, so you must coordinate vowel height, lip rounding, and voicing.
Yes. In repair contexts, the plural form repairs often occurs in maintenance or service discussions and tends to be pronounced with a clear, audible final /z/; the action is on the second syllable, so you’ll frequently see it in phrases like make repairs or perform repairs. The nuance is not in the pronunciation itself but in the register: technical, practical, and sometimes businesslike. In casual speech, you may hear quick, clipped versions /rəˈpɛəz/ with reduced emphasis on the first syllable, but the standard, careful form emphasizes re-PAIRS.
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Repairs comes from the Old French reparer, meaning to repair, mend, or restore. The verb reparer originates from re- (again) + parer (to prepare, to mend) from Latin reparare, itself from re- (again) + parare (to prepare, to make ready). The English noun form repairs evolved in the Middle English period, influenced by the French répare, a noun form denoting the act or result of repairing. The core sense has remained—acting to restore function or condition after damage. Over centuries, the word broadened beyond physical objects to include maintenance and corrective actions in various domains, from machinery to systems to relationships, though in common usage it most often refers to fixing tangible things. First known uses appear in late medieval English texts, with parallel forms in Old French literature that describe mending and restoration tasks. The word’s adaptiveness in engineering, construction, and everyday life has kept it central to discussions of upkeep and reliability. In modern English, repairs connotates both the process and the outcome: a repaired object is returned to usable or improved condition, and the phrase “in repairs” can indicate ongoing corrective work.
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Help others use "repairs" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "repairs" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "repairs" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "repairs"
-irs sounds
-res sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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