What is pair? Pronunciation and usage in English

pair means . Learn how to pronounce and use pair through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of pair

pairnoun

/pɛː/
Definition & pronunciation of pair

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "pair" in English. It's a tricky one for some! Here's a breakdown:

The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /peɪr/
  • How it sounds: It's pronounced like "pay" (as in "paycheck"). The "ai" sound is short and quick.

The Pronunciation in British English:

  • IPA: /pɛər/
  • How it sounds: This one is a bit different. It’s pronounced more like "pear" (as in the fruit). The "ear" sound is longer and more distinct.

Here's a breakdown of the sounds within each pronunciation:

American English (/peɪr/):

  • p: Like the letter 'p'
  • ei: This is the tricky part. It's a diphthong, meaning it's a combination of two vowel sounds. It starts like a short "e" (as in "bed"), quickly gliding towards an "a" (as in "say").

British English (/pɛər/):

  • p: Like the letter 'p'
  • eh: A clear "eh" sound, as in "pen" or "her."
  • r: A distinct "r" sound, like in "red." (British English often pronounces the 'r' at the end of words.)

Resources to help you hear it:

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Usage and examples with the word pair in English

Let's break down how to use the word "pair" in English. It's a versatile word with several different meanings and uses! Here's a detailed explanation, categorized for clarity:

1. As a Noun (Referring to Two Things)

  • Basic Meaning: This is the most common usage. "Pair" simply means two things that are used together or considered as a unit.
    • Example: "I bought a pair of shoes." (Two shoes)
    • Example: "We need a pair of scissors." (Two scissors)
    • Example: "They found a pair of gloves." (Two gloves)

2. Pairs of People

  • Matching Individuals: "Pair" often refers to a group of two people who are related in some way.
    • Example: "He's in a pair with Sarah at the dance." (They are dancing together as a couple)
    • Example: "The astronauts worked as a pair during the mission." (They collaborated on the mission)
    • Example: "A pair of lawyers represented the client." (Two lawyers)

3. As a Verb (To Join Two Things Together)

  • Connecting Items: "Pair" can also be a verb meaning to connect or unite two things.
    • Example: "She paired the scarf with a dress." (She combined the scarf and dress together)
    • Example: "The chef paired the wine with the cheese." (He matched the wine with the cheese.)
    • Example: “The artist wanted to pair bold colors with pastel shades.”

4. Animal Pairs (Mammals, Birds, etc.)

  • Reproduction and Social Groups: “Pair” is frequently used when talking about animals.
    • Example: “Elephants live in pairs.” (Male and female elephants)
    • Example: “The geese formed a pair.” (A male and female goose)
    • Example: "A pair of cardinals were feeding their young."

5. Gaming and Sports (Specific Pairs)

  • Tennis: "A pair of tennis" refers to two tennis racquets.
  • Boxing: “He fought a pair of rounds.” (Two rounds of a match).
  • Other Sports: Sometimes used to refer to a set of equipment or a specific combination in sports (e.g., “a pair of skis”).

6. Figurative Uses

  • Two of a Kind: "A pair of aces" (In card games – two cards of the same rank).
  • A Match: "They were a good pair." (Meaning they were well-suited or compatible).

Phrases Using "Pair"

  • A perfect pair: (Something that goes well together)
  • Pair of socks: (Two matching socks)
  • Pair of eyes: (A set of eyes)
  • To be a pair: (To be together, especially romantically)

Resources for Further Learning:

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  • What kind of context are you thinking about when you want to use "pair"? (e.g., talking about clothes, describing a relationship, explaining a process?)

Synonyms for the word pair

Idioms of the word pair

in pairs
in groups of two objects or people
  • Students worked in pairs on the project.
  • These candles only come in pairs.
I’ve only got one pair of hands
(informal)used to say that you are too busy to do anything else
    a pair of hands
    (informal)a person who can do, or is doing, a job
    • We need an extra pair of hands if we're going to finish on time.
    a safe pair of hands
    (especially British English)a person that you can trust to do a job well
    • Colleagues regard him as a safe pair of hands.

    Practice with vocabulary pair

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The research team needed a reliable ______ of data sets for their comparative analysis.
    2. For the upcoming presentation, we should try to ______ the new marketing strategy with the existing sales data.
    3. The consultant advised the company to address the ______ of issues: declining sales and increasing production costs.
    4. The CEO expressed his appreciation for the entire ______ of dedicated employees who worked tirelessly on the project.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (Select all that apply)

    1. Which of these words can refer to two people working collaboratively on a task? a) group b) team c) pair d) crowd
    2. The IT department recommended purchasing a new ______ of monitors for each workstation to improve efficiency. a) set b) collection c) pair d) bundle
    3. To ensure data integrity, the analyst decided to ______ each record from the primary database with its corresponding entry in the backup system. a) connect b) link c) pair d) merge
    4. The legal team is reviewing the ______ of documents related to the merger agreement. a) couple b) batch c) set d) duo
    5. It is crucial to find a ______ solution that addresses both the immediate financial challenges and the long-term sustainability goals. a) dual b) common c) combined d) collaborative

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Original: The two scientists worked together on the groundbreaking experiment. Rewrite using "pair" or a related word form:
    2. Original: My glasses are essential for reading, but they are broken. Rewrite using "pair" or a related word form:
    3. Original: The company aims to achieve two important objectives this quarter. Rewrite without using "pair":

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. pair
    2. pair
    3. couple
    4. team

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. b) team, c) pair
    2. c) pair
    3. a) connect, b) link, c) pair
    4. a) couple, b) batch, c) set
    5. a) dual, c) combined

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. The two scientists paired up for the groundbreaking experiment. (Alternatively: The two scientists formed a research pair for the groundbreaking experiment.)
    2. My pair of glasses is essential for reading, but it is broken.
    3. The company aims to achieve dual important objectives this quarter.

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