How to pronounce gulf
Say it like GUHLF. Gulf 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 gulf. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GUHLF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gulf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GUHLFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of gulf
American and British speakers say gulf in essentially the same way: /ɡʌlf/ in the US and /ɡʌlf/ in the UK.
British respelling: GUHLF.
What does gulf mean?
- an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
- an unbridgeable disparity (as from a failure of understanding)“he felt a gulf between himself and his former friends”“there is a vast disconnect between public opinion and federal policy”
- a deep wide chasm
Questions about saying gulf
How do you pronounce gulf?
Say GUHLF. The American pronunciation is /ɡʌlf/. In British English it is /ɡʌlf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gulf?
Gulf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GUHLF.
Do Americans and Brits say gulf the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɡʌlf/ and the British form is /ɡʌlf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.