How to pronounce bluff
Say it like BLUHF. Bluff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bluff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BLUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bluff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BLUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of bluff
American and British speakers say bluff in essentially the same way: /blʌf/ in the US and /blʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: BLUHF.
What does bluff mean?
- a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
- pretense that your position is stronger than it really is“his bluff succeeded in getting him accepted”
- the act of bluffing in poker; deception by a false show of confidence in the strength of your cards
- deceive an opponent by a bold bet on an inferior hand with the result that the opponent withdraws a winning hand
- frighten someone by pretending to be stronger than one really is
- very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front“a bluff headland”“where the bold chalk cliffs of England rise”
- bluntly direct and outspoken but good-natured“a bluff but pleasant manner”“a bluff and rugged natural leader”
Where does bluff come from?
Probably from Dutch bluffen (“to brag”), from Middle Dutch bluffen (“to make something swell; to bluff”); or from the Dutch noun bluf (“bragging”).
Words that rhyme with bluff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bluff.
Questions about saying bluff
How do you pronounce bluff?
Say BLUHF. The American pronunciation is /blʌf/. In British English it is /blʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bluff?
Bluff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BLUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say bluff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /blʌf/ and the British form is /blʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.