How to pronounce polish
Say it like POL-ish. Polish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce polish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POL
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Polish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of polish
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: POL-ish.
Other ways to say polish
Polish also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- POH-lish /ˈpoʊlɪʃ/
What does polish mean?
- the property of being smooth and shiny
- a highly developed state of perfection; having a flawless or impeccable quality“they performed with great polish”“I admired the exquisite refinement of his prose”
- a preparation used in polishing
- make (a surface) shine“shine the silver, please”“polish my shoes”
- improve or perfect by pruning or polishing“refine one's style of writing”
- bring to a highly developed, finished, or refined state“polish your social manners”
- of or relating to Poland or its people or culture“Polish sausage”
Where does polish come from?
From Middle English polishen, from Old French poliss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of polir, from Latin polīre (“to polish, make smooth”), from Proto-Indo-European *pelh₂- (“to drive, strike, thrust”), from the notion of fulling cloth.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with polish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of polish.
Questions about saying polish
How do you pronounce polish?
Say POL-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑlɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈpɒlɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in polish?
Polish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POL). Broken into parts: POL · ish.
Is polish pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈpɒlɪʃ/ (POL-ish).