How to pronounce sunshine
Say it like SUHN-shyne. Sunshine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sunshine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHN
- shyne
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sunshine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- shyneGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of sunshine
American and British speakers say sunshine in essentially the same way: /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/ in the US and /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHN-shyne.
What does sunshine mean?
- the rays of the sun“the shingles were weathered by the sun and wind”
- moderate weather; suitable for outdoor activities
- the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom“flowers added a note of cheerfulness to the drab room”
Where does sunshine come from?
In the Coverdale Bible in 1535, in Genesis and Exodus about 1250 as Middle English sunnesine; synchronically sun + shine.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sunshine
How do you pronounce sunshine?
Say SUHN-shyne. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/. In British English it is /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sunshine?
Sunshine has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHN). Broken into parts: SUHN · shyne.
Do Americans and Brits say sunshine the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/ and the British form is /ˈsʌnˌʃaɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.