How to pronounce midriff
Say it like MID-rif. Midriff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MID).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce midriff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MID
- rif
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Midriff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MIDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- rifKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of midriff
American and British speakers say midriff in essentially the same way: /ˈmɪdrɪf/ in the US and /ˈmɪdrɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: MID-rif.
What does midriff mean?
- The middle section of the human torso, from below the chest to above the waist; the abdomen and its back part.
Where does midriff come from?
From Middle English midref, mydrif, from Old English midrif, midhrif (“the midriff; diaphragm”), from Proto-West Germanic *middjahrif.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying midriff
How do you pronounce midriff?
Say MID-rif. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪdrɪf/. In British English it is /ˈmɪdrɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in midriff?
Midriff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MID). Broken into parts: MID · rif.
Do Americans and Brits say midriff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɪdrɪf/ and the British form is /ˈmɪdrɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.