How to pronounce perish
Say it like PER-ish. Perish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce perish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PER
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Perish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of perish
American and British speakers say perish in essentially the same way: /ˈpɛrɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈpɛrɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PER-ish.
What does perish mean?
- To decay and disappear; to waste away to nothing.
- To decay in such a way that it cannot be used for its original purpose
- To die; to cease to live.
Where does perish come from?
From Middle English perishen, borrowed from Old French perir (via the stem periss- used in various conjugations), from Latin perīre (“pass away, perish”), from per (“through”) + īre (“pass, go”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with perish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of perish.
Words that sound like perish
Questions about saying perish
How do you pronounce perish?
Say PER-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɛrɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈpɛrɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in perish?
Perish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PER). Broken into parts: PER · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say perish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɛrɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈpɛrɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as perish?
Perish sounds the same as parish in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.