How to pronounce luff
Say it like LUHF. Luff 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 luff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Luff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of luff
American and British speakers say luff in essentially the same way: /lʌf/ in the US and /lʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: LUHF.
What does luff mean?
- The vertical edge of a sail that is closest to the direction of the wind.“By easing the halyard, the luff of the sail was made to sag to leeward.”
- The act of sailing a ship close to the wind.
- The roundest part of a ship's bow.
- To shake due to being trimmed improperly.
- To bring the ship's head up closer to the wind. (Alternatively luff up)
- to let out (a sail) so that it luffs.
Where does luff come from?
From Old French lof. Collins English Dictionary states that this word is ultimately derived from Middle Dutch loef.
Words that rhyme with luff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of luff.
Questions about saying luff
How do you pronounce luff?
Say LUHF. The American pronunciation is /lʌf/. In British English it is /lʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in luff?
Luff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say luff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /lʌf/ and the British form is /lʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.