How to Pronounce Impair

To pronounce "impair", say IMP-air — 2 syllables, IPA /ɪmˈpɛə/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

impair

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying impair, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

Syllables

Letters

/ɪmˈpɛə/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “impair”

"impair" has 2 syllables: imp-air. It rhymes with despair and glare, if that helps it stick.

What does impair mean?

verb

To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.
To grow worse; to deteriorate.

adjective

Not fit or appropriate; unsuitable.

Synonyms

blunt diminish hurt lessen mar reduce weaken worsen

Hear “impair” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with impair

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

despair glare debonair bare declare affair flare fair welfare aware air square

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "impair"?▾

"Impair" has 2 syllables: imp · air.

What is the IPA transcription of "impair"?▾

The IPA transcription of "impair" is /ɪmˈpɛə/.

What does "impair" mean?▾

Impair: To weaken; to affect negatively; to have a diminishing effect on.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “impair” in the full dictionary →