How to pronounce mischief
Say it like MIS-chuf. Mischief has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce mischief. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MIS
- chuf
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Mischief pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- chufKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of mischief
American and British speakers say mischief in essentially the same way: /ˈmɪstʃəf/ in the US and /ˈmɪstʃɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: MIS-chif.
What does mischief mean?
- Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance.“Drink led to mischief.”
- A playfully annoying action.“John's mischief, tying his shoelaces together, irked George at first.”
- A nest or pack of mice or rats.
Where does mischief come from?
From Middle English myschef, meschef, meschief, mischef, from Old French meschief, from meschever (“to bring to grief”), from mes- (“badly”) + chever (“happen; come to a head”), from Vulgar Latin *capare, from Latin caput (“head”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying mischief
How do you pronounce mischief?
Say MIS-chuf. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪstʃəf/. In British English it is /ˈmɪstʃɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in mischief?
Mischief has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MIS). Broken into parts: MIS · chuf.
Do Americans and Brits say mischief the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɪstʃəf/ and the British form is /ˈmɪstʃɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.