How to pronounce buff
Say it like BUHF. Buff 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 buff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Buff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of buff
American and British speakers say buff in essentially the same way: /bʌf/ in the US and /bʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: BUHF.
What does buff mean?
- an ardent follower and admirer
- a soft thick undyed leather from the skins of e.g. buffalo or oxen
- bare skin“swimming in the buff means to swim naked”
- strike, beat repeatedly“The wind buffeted him”
- polish and make shiny“buff the wooden floors”“buff my shoes”
- of the yellowish-beige color of buff leather
Where does buff come from?
From buffe (“leather”), from Middle French buffle (“buffalo”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with buff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of buff.
Questions about saying buff
How do you pronounce buff?
Say BUHF. The American pronunciation is /bʌf/. In British English it is /bʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in buff?
Buff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say buff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bʌf/ and the British form is /bʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.