The word “Amish” is pronounced as “AH-mish.” The emphasis is on the first syllable, and the “a” sounds like the “a” in “father.” So, it’s not “ay-mish” or “uh-mish,” but rather, “AH-mish.”
The pronunciation of “Amish” reflects its Germanic roots. The “A” sound in German is commonly articulated as “AH,” akin to the English pronunciation found in words like “father” or “car”.
When adopting German words into English, the pronunciation tends to stay true to the original sounds.
In the case of “Amish,” which originates from the German-speaking Anabaptist community, the pronunciation adheres to its linguistic origins.
Hence, “Amish” is pronounced as “AH-mish” to maintain linguistic accuracy.
Language evolves, but when adopting words from other languages, retaining their original pronunciation maintains a link to their cultural and linguistic origins.
So, when encountering “Amish,” remember the German influence, and pronounce it as “AH-mish” to stay faithful to its linguistic roots.