How to pronounce diminish
Say it like dih-MIN-ish. Diminish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce diminish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- MIN
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Diminish 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.
- MINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of diminish
American and British speakers say diminish in essentially the same way: /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ in the US and /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-MIN-ish.
What does diminish mean?
- To make smaller.
- To become less or smaller.
- To make appear smaller than in reality; to dismiss as unimportant.
Where does diminish come from?
Formed under the influence of both diminue (from Old French diminuer, from Latin dīminuo) and minish.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with diminish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of diminish.
Questions about saying diminish
How do you pronounce diminish?
Say dih-MIN-ish. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/. In British English it is /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in diminish?
Diminish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (MIN). Broken into parts: dih · MIN · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say diminish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ and the British form is /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.