How to pronounce coif
Say it like KWOF. Coif 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 coif. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KWOF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coif pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KWOFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of coif
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KWOF.
What does coif mean?
- A hairdo.
- An official headdress, such as that worn by certain judges in England.
- To style or arrange hair.
Where does coif come from?
From Middle English coif, coife, coyf, coyfe, coyffe, from Old French coife, coiffe, from Late Latin cofia, from Proto-West Germanic *kuffju, related to Old High German kupphia, kupha, kupfe (“mug, hood, cap”), from Proto-Germanic *kuppijǭ
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with coif
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of coif.
Questions about saying coif
How do you pronounce coif?
Say KWOF. The American pronunciation is /kwɑf/. In British English it is /kwɒf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coif?
Coif is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KWOF.
Is coif pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /kwɒf/ (KWOF).