How to pronounce peevish
Say it like PEE-vish. Peevish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce peevish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PEE
- vish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Peevish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- vishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of peevish
American and British speakers say peevish in essentially the same way: /ˈpivɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈpiːvɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PEE-vish.
What does peevish mean?
- Constantly complaining, especially in a childish way due to insignificant matters; fretful, whiny.“Due to the long wait, there were several peevish patients in the doctor’s waiting room.”
- Quick to become bad-tempered or cross, especially due to insignificant matters; irritable, pettish, petulant.“I would rather figure things out on my own than ask that peevish librarian for help.”
- Of weather: blustery, windy; also, of wind: cold and strong; bitter, sharp.
Where does peevish come from?
The adverb is derived from the adjective.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying peevish
How do you pronounce peevish?
Say PEE-vish. The American pronunciation is /ˈpivɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈpiːvɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in peevish?
Peevish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PEE). Broken into parts: PEE · vish.
Do Americans and Brits say peevish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpivɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈpiːvɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.