pair

The word “pair” means two matching or related things considered together. In plain terms, two things or people that go together as a set, or the act of joining two things.

“Pair” is pronounced peh-uh (/pɛɹ/ in IPA).

Here is “pair” used in a sentence: “She bought a new pair of shoes.”

Words with a similar meaning to “pair” include duo, dyad, couple, brace, twosome and duplet.

Depending on how it is used, “pair” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “pair” comes from Latin. From Middle English paire, via Old French from Latin paria, "equal things," related to par, "equal.".

“Pair” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Pair” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: two matching or related things considered together.

Both mean two, but with a nuance. A "pair" is two things that match or belong together — a pair of shoes, a pair of gloves. A "couple" is simply two of something, or two people in a relationship, without the sense of matching. Pairs are joined by function; couples just by number.

They sound the same but are unrelated. A "pair" is a set of two matching things. A "pear" is the sweet, bell-shaped fruit. There is also "pare," meaning to trim or peel. Remembering that "pear" ends like "ear" can help you keep the fruit distinct.

"Pair" is singular — "a pair of scissors is on the desk" — even though it refers to two things, and its plural is "pairs." With some paired items, especially "a pair of trousers," the verb can go either way, but treating pair as a single unit is standard.

A pair of shoes, a pair of socks, and a pair of earrings are everyday examples — two matching items used together. "Pair" also covers single objects with two joined parts, such as a pair of scissors or glasses, and two people, as in a pair of dancers.