How to pronounce demolish
Say it like dih-MOL-ish. Demolish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce demolish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- MOL
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Demolish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- MOLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of demolish
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: dih-MOL-ish.
What does demolish mean?
- To destroy (buildings, etc.), especially in a planned or intentional fashion.“They demolished the old mill and put up four townhouses.”
- To defeat, refute, discredit, or consume utterly (as a theory, belief or opponent).
- To devour; to eat up
Where does demolish come from?
Attested since the 16th century; from Middle French demoliss-, the stem of some conjugated forms of the verb demolir (“to destroy”, “to tear down”), from Latin dēmōlior (“to tear down”).
Words that rhyme with demolish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of demolish.
Questions about saying demolish
How do you pronounce demolish?
Say dih-MOL-ish. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈmɑlɪʃ/. In British English it is /dɪˈmɒlɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in demolish?
Demolish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MOL). Broken into parts: dih · MOL · ish.
Is demolish 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 /dɪˈmɒlɪʃ/ (dih-MOL-ish).