How to pronounce smallish
Say it like SMAW-lish. Smallish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce smallish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SMAW
- lish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Smallish pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SMAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- lishKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of smallish
American and British speakers say smallish in essentially the same way: /ˈsmɔlɪʃ/ in the US and /ˈsmɔːlɪʃ/ in the UK.
British respelling: SMAW-lish.
What does smallish mean?
- Somewhat small.
Where does smallish come from?
From Middle English smalish, equivalent to small + -ish.
Questions about saying smallish
How do you pronounce smallish?
Say SMAW-lish. The American pronunciation is /ˈsmɔlɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈsmɔːlɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in smallish?
Smallish has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SMAW). Broken into parts: SMAW · lish.
Do Americans and Brits say smallish the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsmɔlɪʃ/ and the British form is /ˈsmɔːlɪʃ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.