2 syllables: Fin, ished. Stress on Fin.
FIN-isht
/ˈfɪnɪʃt/
Finished is pronounced FIN-isht (/ˈfɪnɪʃt/). It has two syllables (Fin-ished), with the stress on "Fin". Finished is an adjective meaning completed or brought to an end. It describes something that has reached its conclusion or final stage, often implying it is no longer in progress. The term also appears as the past participle of finish, used in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
adjectiveFinished is an adjective meaning completed or brought to an end. It describes something that has reached its conclusion or final stage, often implying it is no longer in progress. The term also appears as the past participle of finish, used in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
How to Pronounce Finished
"The project is finished and ready for review."
"She announced that the race is finished."
"The painting looks finished after several layers of varnish."
Say it as /ˈfɪn.ɪʃt/. The first syllable has a stressed short /ɪ/ as in 'sit', the second syllable is a quick /ɪ/ followed by the voiceless /ʃ/ (as in 'ship') and ends with a clear /t/. In fast speech, some speakers link the -ed as a light /t/ or even a skipped vowel, but the main stress remains on the first syllable. Audio reference: consider listening to pronunciation guides on Pronounce or Forvo for natural variations.
Two frequent errors: (1) pronouncing it as /ˈfiː.nɪʃ/ with a long /iː/ where the correct vowel is the short /ɪ/. (2) Dropping the /t/ at the end, producing /ˈfɪn.ɪʃ/. Ensure the final /t/ is audible, especially in careful speech. Practice by isolating the final consonant: end with a crisp /t/ after the /ʃ/.
In US, UK, and AU, the primary difference is the quality of the first vowel; US tends to have a slightly tenser /ɪ/ and a quicker, more clipped /t/, while UK often has a more relaxed onset and crisper final /t/. AU speakers may show a mildly flatter vowel quality and a softer /t/ in some dialects. The /r/ is not involved here as the word is non-rhotic in many varieties, but rhythm and flapping in US can affect perceived duration.
The challenge lies in the final consonant cluster /t/ after /ʃ/. English speakers often voice the /t/ less distinctly or blend it, creating /ʃ/ with a plosive that sounds like /ʃd/ or /ʃt/ without clearly audible release. Additionally, the short /ɪ/ in both syllables can blur under rapid speech. Practicing a careful, full /t/ and a precise /ɪ/ in the first syllable helps
The word ends with a voiceless /t/ that can be aspirated or unreleased depending on pace; in careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp /t/ after /ʃ/. In connected speech, some speakers may reduce the middle vowel slightly, but the enforcement of the final /t/ keeps it clear. Also, the /ɪ/ in the second syllable is often a reduced or quick vowel; keep it distinct from the first /ɪ/ to avoid confusion with ‘fin-ished’ vs. ‘finish’ + -ed forms.
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Finished derives from the verb finish, from Old English finian or fierran meaning to end, complete, or finish off. The noun finish (end, termination) comes from the same root. The Germanic lineage traces to Proto-Germanic *finitho- or *finithiz, related to Old Norse finna meaning to end or end point. The suffix -ed marks past participle/adjective form in English, with usage expanding across centuries to denote completed states (as in finished goods) and completed actions in perfect tenses. By Middle English, finished functioned as both a verb participle and an adjective describing something that has reached a final state. Over time, it broadened to describe processes that are fully completed, fully developed, or fully achieved. First known uses coalesced in the early medieval period, with written attestations appearing in law codes and narrative texts that describe outcomes rather than ongoing actions. Today, finished is a common descriptor in both formal and informal registers, frequently collocated with nouns like product, work, and result to indicate completion or final form.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Finished" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Finished" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Finished"
-hed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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