How to pronounce punished
Say it like PUHN-isht. Punished 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 punished. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHN
- isht
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Punished 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.
- ishtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of punished
American and British speakers say punished in essentially the same way: /ˈpʌnɪʃt/ in the US and /ˈpʌnɪʃt/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHN-isht.
What does punished mean?
- subjected to a penalty (as pain or shame or restraint or loss) for an offense or fault or in order to coerce some behavior (as a confession or obedience)
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying punished
How do you pronounce punished?
Say PUHN-isht. The American pronunciation is /ˈpʌnɪʃt/. In British English it is /ˈpʌnɪʃt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in punished?
Punished has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHN). Broken into parts: PUHN · isht.
Do Americans and Brits say punished the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpʌnɪʃt/ and the British form is /ˈpʌnɪʃt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.