How to pronounce buffalo
Say it like BUHF-uh-loh. Buffalo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHF).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce buffalo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈbʌfəˌloʊ/BUHF-uh-loh
UK British/ˈbʌfəˌləʊ/BUHF-uh-loh
- BUHF
- uh
- loh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Buffalo 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.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of buffalo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BUHF-uh-loh.
What does buffalo mean?
noun
- large shaggy-haired brown bison of North American plains
- a city on Lake Erie in western New York (near Niagara Falls)
- meat from an American bison
- intimidate or overawe
Questions about saying buffalo
How do you pronounce buffalo?
Say BUHF-uh-loh. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌfəˌloʊ/. In British English it is /ˈbʌfəˌləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in buffalo?
Buffalo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHF). Broken into parts: BUHF · uh · loh.
Is buffalo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈbʌfəˌləʊ/ (BUHF-uh-loh).