How to pronounce unvarnished
Say it like un-VAR-nisht. Unvarnished has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unvarnished. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- VAR
- nisht
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unvarnished pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- nishtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of unvarnished
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: un-VAH-nisht.
What does unvarnished mean?
- Not having been coated with varnish.“unvarnished furniture”
- Natural, unmodified, unembellished, not exaggerated.“She told the unvarnished truth.”
Where does unvarnished come from?
From un- + varnished.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying unvarnished
How do you pronounce unvarnished?
Say un-VAR-nisht. The American pronunciation is /ənˈvɑrnɪʃt/. In British English it is /ənˈvɑːnɪʃt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unvarnished?
Unvarnished has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAR). Broken into parts: un · VAR · nisht.
Is unvarnished pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ənˈvɑːnɪʃt/ (un-VAH-nisht).