2 syllables: fur, nish. Stress on fur.
FUR-nish
/ˈfɝnɪʃ/
furnish is pronounced FUR-nish (/ˈfɝnɪʃ/). It has two syllables (fur-nish), with the stress on "fur". Furnish means to supply or provide with what is needed or convenient, typically furniture or equipment. It can also mean to adorn or outfit a space or vessel. The term is commonly used in contexts like homes, offices, and ships, where items are supplied or decorated to make a space functional and complete.
Furnish means to supply or provide with what is needed or convenient, typically furniture or equipment. It can also mean to adorn or outfit a space or vessel. The term is commonly used in contexts like homes, offices, and ships, where items are supplied or decorated to make a space functional and complete.
- You: You may pronounce it as fur-nish with a weak vowel like /ə/ instead of the strong /ɜː/. Fix by using the tense /ɜː/ and a sharp /n/ before /ɪ/. - You: You might rush the /t/ into the final /ʃ/ or drop the /ʃ/ sound. Practice by isolating /nɪʃ/ and ensuring /ʃ/ is audible. - You: You could blend the syllables into a single syllable: /ˈfɜrnɪʃ/; slow down to /ˈfɜːr.nɪʃ/ and connect with the stress on the first syllable. - Correction tips: Use a short pause between syllables, exaggerate the /ɶr/ or /ɜː/ to feel the correct mouth shape; place your tongue tip behind upper front teeth for the /n/, and end with a soft /ʃ/ that licks the roof of your mouth.
"The landlord agreed to furnish the apartment with a bed, a sofa, and a dining table."
"We hired a designer to furnish our living room with modern pieces."
"The ship was furnished with spare parts and medical supplies."
Stress falls on the first syllable: /ˈfɜːr.nɪʃ/ in US and UK IPA. Start with a mid-central initial vowel /ɜː/ (like ‘fur’) followed by /nɪʃ/ as in ‘nish,’ with the /ɹ/ rhotic in US. The mouth shapes: lips neutral-ish, tongue high-mid for /ɜː/, rebound for /ɹ/ then a clear /n/ and a soft /ʃ/. In Australian, keep the same /ˈfɜːnɪʃ/ pattern, often with slightly less vowel height.”
Two common errors: 1) Reducing the /ɜː/ to a schwa /ə/ as in ‘fun-ish,’ which softens the core vowel and sounds off. 2) Slurring /n/ and /ɪ/ into a quick “ni” sequence; instead clearly separate to /ˈfɜːr.nɪʃ/. Practice by saying ‘fur’ then ‘nish’ slowly, then combine. Keep the /ʃ/ at the end distinct instead of a /s/ or /tʃ/ blend.”
US: rhotic /ˈfɜːr.nɪʃ/ with /ɹ/ pronounced clearly between syllables. UK: non-rhotic tendency; /ˈfɜːnɪʃ/ without the post-vocalic R; vowel is as in ‘furnish,’ but the /ɜː/ may be slightly shorter. AU: similar to UK but with more centralized vowels and a gentle American-like /ɹ/ in some speakers. Overall, the main differences are rhoticity and subtle vowel length; the spelling remains the same.”
Because it combines a stressed initial syllable with a mid vowel /ɜː/ followed by a sensitive /n/ cluster and a final /ʃ/ sound. People often mispronounce by softening /ɜː/ to /ə/ or by substituting /ʃ/ with /tʃ/ or /s/. The transition from /ɜː/ to /n/ to /ʃ/ requires precise tongue movement: mid-back tongue height for /ɜː/, alveolar flap for /n/, and postalveolar /ʃ/ with a gentle tongue blade sweep. Mastery hinges on accurate timing of the syllable transition.”
A distinctive aspect is the /ɜː/ vowel in stressed first syllable combined with a clean /n/ before /ɪ/ and /ʃ/. Emphasize the tension between the rhotic or non-rhotic ruscape: in rhotic accents you’ll feel /ɹ/ shortly before /n/. In non-rhotic, the post-vocalic r doesn’t exist. Keeping the /n/ clearly separated from the /ɪ/ helps the word stay crisp and avoid a blended /ˈfɜːnɪɪ/ or /ˈfɚnɪʃ/.”
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "furnish"!
- US: emphasize rhotic /ɹ/ between /ɜː/ and /n/. Keep /ɜː/ tense, lips neutral. - UK: non-rhotic realization; /ɜː/ can be longer; ensure /n/ is clearly separated before /ɪ/. - AU: often slightly lower or centralized /ɜː/ with broader mouth shapes; keep /n/ distinct before /ɪ/ and /ʃ/.
Furnish originated in Middle English as furnyshen, from Old French furniss-, stem of furnir ‘to furnish, supply, equip,’ from Latin furnire ‘to furnish, provide,’ derived from deponent verb fornire? The exact chain is debated, but the sense of equipping a space with necessary items emerged in the late medieval period. Early English usage tends to pair with ships or houses, where provisioning and decking out spaces with furniture and fittings was essential for daily living or voyage. By the 16th–17th centuries, furnish carried a broader sense of adorning or equipping not just with objects but with goods and services, evolving into modern usage: to furnish a room or building with furniture, fittings, and decor, or to supply a person with necessary resources. The verb’s core meaning centers on provisioning and outfitting, extending metaphorically to furnish arguments or evidence in rhetorical contexts. First known uses appear in legal and inventory records describing provisioning of estates or ships, gradually becoming common in domestic contexts as domestic interiors and furnishing became a sign of status and comfort.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "furnish" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "furnish" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "furnish" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "furnish"
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
