How to pronounce butterfish
Say it like BUHT-er-fish. Butterfish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce butterfish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHT
- er
- fish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Butterfish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of butterfish
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BUHT-uh-fish.
What does butterfish mean?
- Perciform fish of the family Stromateidae, including the genera Pampus, Peprilus and Stromateus.
- A rock gunnel, Pholis gunnellus, an eel-like fish found in the intertidal and subtidal zones of the North Atlantic.
- The New Zealand fish Odax pullus, also known as greenbone.
Where does butterfish come from?
From butter + fish.
Questions about saying butterfish
How do you pronounce butterfish?
Say BUHT-er-fish. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌtərfɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈbʌtəfɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in butterfish?
Butterfish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT). Broken into parts: BUHT · er · fish.
Is butterfish pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbʌtəfɪʃ/ (BUHT-uh-fish).