How to pronounce punishing
Say it like PUHN-ih-shing. Punishing has three 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 punishing. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHN
- ih
- shing
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Punishing 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.
- ihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- shingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of punishing
American and British speakers say punishing in essentially the same way: /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/ in the US and /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHN-ih-shing.
What does punishing mean?
- resulting in punishment“the king imposed a punishing tax”
- characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort“worked their arduous way up the mining valley”“a grueling campaign”
Questions about saying punishing
How do you pronounce punishing?
Say PUHN-ih-shing. The American pronunciation is /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in punishing?
Punishing has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHN). Broken into parts: PUHN · ih · shing.
Do Americans and Brits say punishing the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/ and the British form is /ˈpʌnɪʃɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.