How to pronounce deaf
Say it like DEF. Deaf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DEF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deaf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of deaf
American and British speakers say deaf in essentially the same way: /dɛf/ in the US and /dɛf/ in the UK.
British respelling: DEF.
What does deaf mean?
- people who have severe hearing impairments“many of the deaf use sign language”
- lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing wholly or in part
- (usually followed by `to') unwilling or refusing to pay heed“deaf to her warnings”
- make or render deaf“a deafening noise”
Where does deaf come from?
Cognate with Dutch doof, German taub, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål døv, Norwegian Nynorsk dauv, Swedish döv, Faroese deyvur, Icelandic daufur.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with deaf
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deaf.
Words that sound like deaf
Questions about saying deaf
How do you pronounce deaf?
Say DEF. The American pronunciation is /dɛf/. In British English it is /dɛf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deaf?
Deaf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DEF.
Do Americans and Brits say deaf the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɛf/ and the British form is /dɛf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as deaf?
Deaf sounds the same as def in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.