How to pronounce famish
Say it like FAM-ish. Famish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce famish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FAM
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Famish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of famish
American and British speakers say famish in essentially the same way: /ˈfæmɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈfæmɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: FAM-ish.
What does famish mean?
- To exhaust the strength or endurance of, by hunger; to cause to be very hungry.
- To kill, or to cause great suffering to, by depriving or denying anything necessary.
- To force, control, or constrain by famine.
Where does famish come from?
From Middle English famisshe, from famen (“starve”), from Old French afamer, ultimately from Latin famēs (“hunger”).
Questions about saying famish
How do you pronounce famish?
Say FAM-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈfæmɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈfæmɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in famish?
Famish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FAM). Broken into parts: FAM · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say famish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfæmɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈfæmɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.