Words that contain letters 'air' and 'are'

The realization of diphthong /eə/ + audio

The diphthong /eə/ is often realized in words that contain letters air and are.

Examples of such words are

• air as in stair, fair, pair, hair, air, etc

• are as in care, rare, bare, share, hare, dare, prepare, fare, mare, etc.

Note words like wear, where, bear, heir, wary, tear (verb), their and there (same pronunciation) that also contain the diphthong /eə/.

Are there a few exceptions? No, I do not think so. All words that contain the letters ‘air’ and ‘are’ invariably have the diphthong /eə/.

I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter as much as I enjoy writing it to you. Till I write to you again, please stay safe.

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With love and everything English,

Francis