How to pronounce banshee
Say it like BAN-shee. Banshee 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 banshee. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAN
- shee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Banshee 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.
- sheeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of banshee
American and British speakers say banshee in essentially the same way: /ˈbænʃi/ in the US and /ˈbænʃi/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAN-shee.
Other ways to say banshee
Banshee also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- ban-SHEE /bænˈʃi/
What does banshee mean?
- A female spirit, usually taking the form of a woman whose mournful wailing warns of an impending death.
Where does banshee come from?
Borrowed from Irish bean sí, from Old Irish ben síde (literally “woman of the fairy mound”).
Questions about saying banshee
How do you pronounce banshee?
Say BAN-shee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbænʃi/. In British English it is /ˈbænʃi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in banshee?
Banshee has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAN). Broken into parts: BAN · shee.
Do Americans and Brits say banshee the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbænʃi/ and the British form is /ˈbænʃi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.