How to pronounce bouffant
Say it like boo-FAHNT. Bouffant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAHNT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bouffant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- boo
- FAHNT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bouffant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- booKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- FAHNTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of bouffant
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1.
British respelling: BOO-fah.
What does bouffant mean?
- Of hair or clothing, full-bodied or puffy; puffed out away from head or body.“Her bouffant suit made her seem much heavier than her petite figure actually was.”
- A puffy, round hairstyle, popular in the mid-to-late 16th century, characterized by hair raised high on the head and usually covering the ears or hanging down on the sides.
Where does bouffant come from?
From French bouffant, from Middle French; present participle of bouffer (“to puff”).
Words that rhyme with bouffant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bouffant.
Questions about saying bouffant
How do you pronounce bouffant?
Say boo-FAHNT. The American pronunciation is /buˈfɑnt/. In British English it is /ˈbuːfɑ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bouffant?
Bouffant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAHNT). Broken into parts: boo · FAHNT.
Is bouffant pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 2, while British speakers stress syllable 1. The British form is /ˈbuːfɑ/ (BOO-fah).