How to pronounce astonishing
Say it like uh-STON-ih-shing. Astonishing has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce astonishing. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- STON
- ih
- shing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Astonishing pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- STONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- shingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of astonishing
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: uh-STON-ih-shing.
What does astonishing mean?
- surprising greatly“she does an amazing amount of work”“the dog was capable of astonishing tricks”
- so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm“such an enormous response was astonishing”“an astounding achievement”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with astonishing
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of astonishing.
Questions about saying astonishing
How do you pronounce astonishing?
Say uh-STON-ih-shing. The American pronunciation is /əˈstɑnɪʃɪŋ/. In British English it is /əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in astonishing?
Astonishing has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STON). Broken into parts: uh · STON · ih · shing.
Is astonishing pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/ (uh-STON-ih-shing).