Pronunciation: [ɹˈɛdɪʃ] (IPA) 
The word "reddish" is spelled with two d's, although it might not seem like it based on its pronunciation. The correct phonetic transcription is ˈrɛdɪʃ. The first syllable, "red," is pronounced with a short e sound, while the second syllable, "dish," is pronounced with a short i. The double d's in "reddish" might seem unnecessary, but they serve to distinguish the word from "redish," which could be pronounced as "reedish" or "relish."
"Reddish" is an adjective that is used to describe something that has a tint, shade, or tone akin to the color red. The term is derived from the word "red," which is one of the primary colors. Typically, when an object or substance is described as "reddish," it exhibits a perceptible amount of red color but may also possess nuances or variations.
"Reddish" is commonly associated with hues that share similarities with red but are not purely or intensely red. It often suggests a diluted or less vibrant form of the color, conveying a slight presence of red pigment. This description is employed to denote a range of tones, from those that are distinctly redder than an original or base color to those that simply contain an undertone of redness.
The term is frequently applied to describe various natural phenomena, such as the reddish glow of a sunset, the reddish-orange foliage during the autumn season, or the reddish tint of certain soils. Additionally, it is used to depict human physical characteristics, particularly hair or complexion, including a reddish-brown hair color or a pale complexion with a hint of redness.
In summary, "reddish" is an adjective that signifies a presence of red or a resemblance to the color red, often implying a diluted or less intense version of the hue. It is widely used to describe the appearance of objects, substances, natural phenomena, or human physical traits that exhibit a noticeable but not dominant red tone.
Having some degree of redness.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "reddish" originated from the combination of two English words: "red" and "-ish".
The word "red" can be traced back to the Old English word "rēad", which had a similar meaning. It can also be connected to the Proto-Germanic word "*rauthaz" and the Proto-Indo-European root "*reudh-", both meaning "red".
The suffix "-ish" comes from the Old English "-isc" or "-isc(e)", indicating a quality or resemblance to something. It derives from the Proto-Germanic "*-iskaz" and the Proto-Indo-European "*-iskos". It is commonly used in English to form adjectives denoting color shades, approximate quantities, or resemblances.
Therefore, "reddish" combines the base adjective "red" with the suffix "-ish" to create a word meaning "somewhat or resembling red".
