How to pronounce banish
Say it like BAN-ish. Banish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce banish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAN
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Banish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of banish
American and British speakers say banish in essentially the same way: /ˈbænɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈbænɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAN-ish.
What does banish mean?
- To send (someone) away and forbid them from returning.“He was banished from the kingdom for his crimes.”
- To expel, especially from the mind.“to banish fear; to banish a qualm”
Where does banish come from?
From Middle English banishen, from Old French baniss-, extended stem of banir (“to proclaim, ban, banish”), of Germanic origin and Old English bannan, from Proto-Germanic *bannaną (“curse, forbid”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with banish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of banish.
Questions about saying banish
How do you pronounce banish?
Say BAN-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈbænɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈbænɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in banish?
Banish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAN). Broken into parts: BAN · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say banish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbænɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈbænɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.