How to pronounce selfish
Say it like SEL-fish. Selfish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEL).
- SEL
- fish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Selfish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- fishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of selfish
American and British speakers say selfish in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEL-fish.
What does selfish mean?
- concerned chiefly or only with yourself and your advantage to the exclusion of others“Selfish men were...trying to make capital for themselves out of the sacred cause of civil rights”
Where does selfish come from?
From self + -ish. Compare Danish selvisk (“selfish”), Swedish självisk (“selfish”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
- unselfish
Words that rhyme with selfish
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of selfish.
Questions about saying selfish
How do you pronounce selfish?
Say SEL-fish. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in selfish?
Selfish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEL). Broken into parts: SEL · fish.
Do Americans and Brits say selfish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈsɛlfɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.