How to pronounce off
Say it like AWF. Off is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
US American/ɔf/AWF
UK British/ɒf/OF
- AWF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Off pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- AWFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of off
American and British speakers say off in essentially the same way: /ɔf/ in the US and /ɒf/ in the UK.
British respelling: OF.
What does off mean?
adverb
- In a direction away from the speaker or other reference point.“He drove off in a cloud of smoke.”
- Into a state of non-operation or non-existence.“Please switch off the light when you leave.”
- So as to remove or separate, or be removed or separated.“He bit off the end of the carrot.”
- Inoperative, disabled.“All the lights are off.”
- Cancelled; not happening.“The party's off because the hostess is sick.”
- Not fitted; not being worn.“Your feet will feel better once those tight boots are off.”
- Not positioned upon; away from a position upon.“He's off the roof now.”
- Detached, separated, excluded or disconnected from; away from a position of attachment or connection to.“The phone is off the hook”
- Outside the area or region of.“The suspect is now believed to be off the campus.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with off
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of off.
Questions about saying off
How do you pronounce off?
Say AWF. The American pronunciation is /ɔf/. In British English it is /ɒf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in off?
Off is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: AWF.
Do Americans and Brits say off the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɔf/ and the British form is /ɒf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.