How to pronounce kerf
Say it like KURF. Kerf 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 kerf. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KURF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kerf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KURFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of kerf
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KURF.
What does kerf mean?
- The groove or slit created by cutting or sawing something; an incision.
- The portion or quantity (e.g. of wood, hay, turf, wool, etc.) removed or cut off in a given stroke.
- The distance between diverging saw teeth.
- To cut a piece of wood or other material with several kerfs to allow it to be bent.
Where does kerf come from?
From Middle English kerf, kirf, kyrf, from Old English cyrf (“an act of cutting, a cutting off; a cutting instrument”), from Proto-West Germanic *kurbi, from Proto-Germanic *kurbiz (“a cut; notch; clipping”), from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ- (“to scratch”).
Words that rhyme with kerf
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kerf.
Questions about saying kerf
How do you pronounce kerf?
Say KURF. The American pronunciation is /kɝf/. In British English it is /kɜːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kerf?
Kerf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KURF.
Is kerf pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /kɜːf/ (KURF).