How to pronounce furbish
Say it like FUR-bish. Furbish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce furbish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FUR
- bish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Furbish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- bishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of furbish
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FUR-bish.
What does furbish mean?
- To polish or burnish.
- To renovate or recondition; to refurbish.
Where does furbish come from?
From Middle English furbisshen, from Old French forbir (stem furbiss-, “to clean, polish”), from Frankish *furbēn (“to clean, polish”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying furbish
How do you pronounce furbish?
Say FUR-bish. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɝbɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈfɜːbɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in furbish?
Furbish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FUR). Broken into parts: FUR · bish.
Is furbish pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈfɜːbɪʃ/ (FUR-bish).