How to pronounce golf
Say it like GOLF. Golf 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 golf. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GOLF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Golf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GOLFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of golf
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: GOLF.
Other ways to say golf
Golf also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- GAWLF /ɡɔlf/
What does golf mean?
- a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes
- play golf
Where does golf come from?
The word is first known in English from the 17th century as a borrowing from Middle Scots golf, gouff.
Questions about saying golf
How do you pronounce golf?
Say GOLF. The American pronunciation is /ɡɑlf/. In British English it is /ɡɒlf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in golf?
Golf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GOLF.
Is golf 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 /ɡɒlf/ (GOLF).