How to pronounce churlish
Say it like CHUR-lish. Churlish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce churlish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- CHUR
- lish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Churlish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- CHURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- lishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of churlish
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: CHUR-lish.
What does churlish mean?
- Of or pertaining to a serf, peasant, or rustic.
- Rude, surly, ungracious.
- Stingy or grudging.
Where does churlish come from?
From Middle English cherlisch, cherlissh, from late Old English ċeorlisċ, ċierlisċ (“of or pertaining to churls”), equivalent to churl + -ish.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with churlish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of churlish.
Questions about saying churlish
How do you pronounce churlish?
Say CHUR-lish. The American pronunciation is /ˈtʃɝlɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈtʃɜːlɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in churlish?
Churlish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (CHUR). Broken into parts: CHUR · lish.
Is churlish 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 /ˈtʃɜːlɪʃ/ (CHUR-lish).