How to pronounce mastiff
Say it like MAS-tif. Mastiff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mastiff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAS
- tif
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mastiff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tifKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of mastiff
American and British speakers say mastiff in essentially the same way: /ˈmæstɪf/ in the US and /ˈmæstɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAS-tif.
What does mastiff mean?
- One of an old breed of powerful, deep-chested, and smooth-coated dogs, used chiefly as watchdogs and guard dogs.
Where does mastiff come from?
From Middle English mastif, mastyf, an aberrant derivation (with influence from Old French mestif) from Old French mastin (modern French mâtin), from Vulgar Latin *mansuetinus (“tamed (animal)”), from Latin mansuetus (“tamed”).
Questions about saying mastiff
How do you pronounce mastiff?
Say MAS-tif. The American pronunciation is /ˈmæstɪf/. In British English it is /ˈmæstɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mastiff?
Mastiff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAS). Broken into parts: MAS · tif.
Do Americans and Brits say mastiff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmæstɪf/ and the British form is /ˈmæstɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.