How to pronounce punish
Say it like PUHN-ish. Punish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce punish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHN
- ish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Punish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of punish
American and British speakers say punish in essentially the same way: /ˈpʌnɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈpʌnɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHN-ish.
What does punish mean?
- impose a penalty on; inflict punishment on“The students were penalized for showing up late for class”“we had to punish the dog for soiling the floor again”
Where does punish come from?
From Middle English punischen, from Anglo-Norman, Old French puniss-, stem of some of the conjugated forms of punir, from Latin puniō (“to inflict punishment upon”), from poena (“punishment, penalty”); see pain.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying punish
How do you pronounce punish?
Say PUHN-ish. The American pronunciation is /ˈpʌnɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈpʌnɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in punish?
Punish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHN). Broken into parts: PUHN · ish.
Do Americans and Brits say punish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpʌnɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈpʌnɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.