2 syllables: Nour, ish. Stress on Nour.
NUR-ish
/ˈnɝɪʃ/
Nourish is pronounced NUR-ish (/ˈnɝɪʃ/). It has two syllables (Nour-ish), with the stress on "Nour". Nourish is a verb meaning to provide with food, nutrients, or sustenance to support growth and health. It can also mean to foster or develop something, such as ideas or relationships, by supplying what is needed. The word conveys a sense of care and nourishment over time, rather than a quick, superficial feeding.
verbNourish is a verb meaning to provide with food, nutrients, or sustenance to support growth and health. It can also mean to foster or develop something, such as ideas or relationships, by supplying what is needed. The word conveys a sense of care and nourishment over time, rather than a quick, superficial feeding.
"The farmer uses rich soil to nourish the crops throughout the growing season."
"A balanced diet helps nourish your body and mind."
"The mentor aimed to nourish her curiosity with challenging projects."
Pronounce as /ˈnɜːrɪʃ/ in UK and /ˈnɜːrɪʃ/ in US; the first syllable carries primary stress. Start with a mid-central vowel quality /ɜː/ in UK and /ɜr/ in US, then a light schwa-like /ɪ/ before the final /ʃ/. Keep the lips relaxed, tongue mid-low for /ɜː/, and finish with the palato-alveolar /ʃ/. Audio examples you can compare: standard British pronunciation and American variants.
Common errors: misplacing stress (putting it on the second vowel), producing a short /ɜ/ as /ɪ/ in the first syllable, or turning /ʃ/ into /s/ or /tʃ/. Correction tips: stress the first syllable: NUR- ish; use /ɜː/ (UK) or /ɜr/ (US) rather than /ɪ/ for the vowel after /n/. For the final sound, ensure you use the palatal-alveolar /ʃ/ without adding a trailing vowel. Practice by saying 'NUR-uhsh' with a clipped final consonant.
US: /ˈnɜːrɪʃ/ with rhoticity; UK: /ˈnɜːrɪʃ/ often slightly longer /ɜː/ and non-rhotic r in many accents; AU: /ˈnɔːrɪʃ/ or /ˈnɜːrɪʃ/ depending on speaker, vowels may be broader and more open. The key differences are vowel quality in the first syllable and the r-coloring depending on rhoticity. Relative timing of the /ɜː/ vowel can be slightly longer in British and Australian speech; US tends toward a more centralized /ɜr/ with stronger rhotic linking.
Difficulties stem from the mid-central vowel /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ in the first syllable and the final /ʃ/ sound following a short, unstressed schwa-like vowel. The combination /ɜrɪʃ/ can be tricky for non-native speakers who don’t have a clear central vowel in their repertoire. Also, distinguishing /n/ plus a rounded /ɜː/ vs. a more closed /ɜɪ/ or /ɪ/ is subtle; practice the difference between /ɜː/ and /ɪ/ in stressed syllables and end with /ʃ/.
A Ni: Unique aspect: the word often mispronounced due to silent or subtle vowel coloring in fast speech. When you say it slowly, ensure you’re producing a clearly defined /ɜː/ or /ɜr/ before /ʃ/, keeping the lips rounded enough for the central-vowel sound. In connected speech, you may hear a reduced vowel in rapid talk; practice with phrase context to maintain clarity: 'nourish the mind'.
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Nourish comes from the Old French nourir, meaning to feed or supply with food, from Latin nutrire, from nutr-, meaning ‘nourishment, food, breast.’ The Latin root nutr- is linked to nourishment and growth. The word passed into Middle English as nourisen and later nourissen before stabilizing as nourish. Historically, nourishment implied not only eating but the broader idea of supporting growth through essential sustenance, often with a sense of care and cultivation. First known uses in English appear in the 15th century, aligning with the agricultural and caregiving senses where to nourish was to provide what sustains life and development. Over time, it extended to figurative meanings, such as nourishing one’s mind or ideas, reflecting a shift from purely physical sustenance to holistic growth. In modern usage, nourish retains both literal and figurative implications, from nutrition in health contexts to nurturing relationships and intellectual growth.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Nourish" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Nourish" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Nourish"
-ish sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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