Quick answer
A pair is two things that go together; a pear is a fruit. Memory hook: a pear has "ear" in it, and a pear is something you can eat, whereas a pair of shoes is two of something.
The core difference
Pair means two related things considered together, while pear is a fruit.
- pair — two matching or related things: She bought a new pair of shoes.
- pear — a sweet fruit, narrower near the stem: She sliced a pear into the salad.
How to tell them apart
Think of the word pear as containing "pea" and "ear", and it names something you eat. Pair has "air" hidden in it and is about twos, like a pair of scissors.
The mix-up often shows up in food writing, where a wine "pears" with fish by mistake. The correct verb is pair, as in: This wine pairs nicely with grilled fish. Pair is also a verb meaning to put together in twos, as in pairing your phone with a speaker.
Frequently asked questions
Is it a pair of pears or a pear of pairs?
It is a pair of pears: pair is the word for two, and pears are the fruit.
Is pair a verb?
Yes. To pair means to put things together in twos, or to suit as a match, as in: The teacher paired students up for the project.
Which word do I use for wine and food matching?
Use pair. You say a wine pairs well with a dish, never pears.
