How to pronounce Finnish
Say it like FIN-ish. Finnish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Finnish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FIN
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Finnish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FINSay 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 Finnish
American and British speakers say Finnish in essentially the same way: /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: FIN-ish.
What does Finnish mean?
- the official language of Finland; belongs to the Baltic Finnic family of languages
- of or relating to or characteristic of Finland or the people of Finland“Finnish architecture”
Words that rhyme with Finnish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Finnish.
Words that sound like Finnish
Questions about saying Finnish
How do you pronounce Finnish?
Say FIN-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɪnɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈfɪnɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Finnish?
Finnish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FIN). Broken into parts: FIN · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say Finnish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɪnɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈfɪnɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as Finnish?
Finnish sounds the same as finish in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.