How to pronounce goldfish
Say it like GOHLD-fish. Goldfish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GOHLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce goldfish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GOHLD
- fish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Goldfish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GOHLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- fishGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of goldfish
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: GOHLD-fish.
What does goldfish mean?
- A type of small fish, Carassius auratus, typically orange-colored.“For the children's fair we'll have a few games they can play, so that each child "wins" a goldfish as a prize.”
- A person with an unreliable memory.
Where does goldfish come from?
From gold + fish.
Questions about saying goldfish
How do you pronounce goldfish?
Say GOHLD-fish. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡoʊldˌfɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈɡəʊldˌfɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in goldfish?
Goldfish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GOHLD). Broken into parts: GOHLD · fish.
Is goldfish pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈɡəʊldˌfɪʃ/ (GOHLD-fish).