The word inspire is divided into 2 syllables: inspi·re. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of inspire:
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From Middle English inspiren, enspiren, from Old French inspirer, variant of espirer, from Latin īnspīrāre (“inspire”), itself a loan-translation of Biblical Ancient Greek πνέω (pnéō, “breathe”), from in + spīrō (“breathe”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)peys- (“to blow, breathe”). Displaced native Old English onbryrdan (literally “to prick in”).
Understanding how to break down inspire into syllables helps with:
Compare inspire with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| inspire | 2 | inspi·re |
| innkeeper | 2 | innkeep-er |
| insofar | 3 | in-so-far |
| ionosphere | 3 | io-nosphe-re |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to inspire:
inspire has 2 syllables: inspi·re. The word is divided into 2 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: inspi. This means you emphasize the "inspi" part when pronouncing inspire.
inspire is pronounced as /ɪnˈspaɪə(ɹ)/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: inspi·re.
Breaking inspire into syllables helps with spelling: inspi·re. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.