How to pronounce extinguish
Say it like ik-STING-gwish. Extinguish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STING).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce extinguish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- STING
- gwish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Extinguish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- STINGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gwishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of extinguish
American and British speakers say extinguish in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ in the US and /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-STING-gwish.
What does extinguish mean?
- To stop (fire, etc.) from burning; also, to stop (light, etc.) from shining; to put out, to quench.
- To eclipse or obscure (someone or something).“A beauty that extinguishes all others by comparison”
- To kill (someone).
Where does extinguish come from?
Borrowed from Latin extinguo (“to put out (what is burning), quench, extinguish, deprive of life, destroy, abolish”), from ex (“out”) + stinguere (“to put out, quench, extinguish”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with extinguish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of extinguish.
Questions about saying extinguish
How do you pronounce extinguish?
Say ik-STING-gwish. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/. In British English it is /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in extinguish?
Extinguish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STING). Broken into parts: ik · STING · gwish.
Do Americans and Brits say extinguish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/ and the British form is /ɪkˈstɪŋɡwɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.