How to pronounce harsh
Say it like HARSH. Harsh is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce harsh. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HARSH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Harsh pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HARSHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of harsh
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAHSH.
What does harsh mean?
- unpleasantly stern“wild and harsh country full of hot sand and cactus”“the nomad life is rough and hazardous”
- unpleasantly rough or jarring to the senses“the harsh cry of a blue jay”“harsh cognac”
- of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles“coarse meal”“coarse sand”
Where does harsh come from?
From Middle English harsk, harisk(e), hask(e), herris.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with harsh
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of harsh.
Questions about saying harsh
How do you pronounce harsh?
Say HARSH. The American pronunciation is /hɑrʃ/. In British English it is /hɑːʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in harsh?
Harsh is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: HARSH.
Is harsh 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 /hɑːʃ/ (HAHSH).