there were

• (UK)
  • (stressed form) IPA^(key): /̩ðɛəˈwɜː/
  • (unstressed form) IPA^(key): /ðɛəwə(ɹ)/, /ðəwə(ɹ)/
• (US, Canada)
  • (stressed form) IPA^(key): /̩ðɛɚˈwɝ/
  • (unstressed form) IPA^(key): /ðɛɚwɚ/, /ðɚwɚ/
    • (unstressed form, r-dissimilation) IPA^(key): /ðɛəwɚ/, /ðɛwɚ/, /ðəwɚ/, /ðwɚ/

• Audio (US); “there were some”:

  (file)

  (spoken three times, most to least stressed)

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ), -ɛəwə(ɹ)

there were

1. simple past plural of there be