How to pronounce bailiff
Say it like BAY-luf. Bailiff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bailiff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BAY
- luf
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bailiff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- lufKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bailiff
American and British speakers say bailiff in essentially the same way: /ˈbeɪləf/ in the US and /ˈbeɪləf/ in the UK.
British respelling: BAY-luf.
What does bailiff mean?
- A high bailiff: an officer of the county courts responsible for executing warrants and court orders, appointed by the judge and removable by the Lord Chancellor.
- A bound bailiff: a deputy bailiff charged with debt collection.
- Any law enforcement officer charged with courtroom security and order.
Where does bailiff come from?
From Middle English baillif, baylyf, from Anglo-Norman and Old French bailif (plural bailis), probably from Vulgar Latin *bāiulivus (“castellan”), from Latin bāiulus (“porter; steward”), whence also bail.
Questions about saying bailiff
How do you pronounce bailiff?
Say BAY-luf. The American pronunciation is /ˈbeɪləf/. In British English it is /ˈbeɪləf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bailiff?
Bailiff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BAY). Broken into parts: BAY · luf.
Do Americans and Brits say bailiff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbeɪləf/ and the British form is /ˈbeɪləf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.