How to pronounce proof
Say it like PROOF. Proof is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- PROOF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Proof pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PROOFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of proof
American and British speakers say proof in essentially the same way: /pruf/ in the US and /pruːf/ in the UK.
British respelling: PROOF.
What does proof mean?
- An effort, process, or operation designed to establish or discover a fact or truth; an act of testing; a test; a trial.“I need proof of your unconditional love. Lend me some dough.”
- The degree of evidence which convinces the mind of any truth or fact, and produces belief; a test by facts or arguments which induce, or tend to induce, certainty of the judgment; conclusive evidence; demonstration.
- The quality or state of having been proved or tried; firmness or hardness which resists impression, or does not yield to force; impenetrability of physical bodies.
- Used in proving or testing.“a proof load; a proof charge”
- Firm or successful in resisting.“proof against harm”
- Being of a certain standard as to alcohol content.“60% proof liquor”
- To proofread.
- To make resistant, especially to water.
- To test-fire with a load considerably more powerful than the firearm in question's rated maximum chamber pressure, in order to establish the firearm's ability to withstand pressures well in excess of those expected in service without bursting.
Where does proof come from?
From Middle English proof, from Old French prove, from Late Latin proba (“a proof”), from Latin probō (“to prove”); see prove; compare also the doublet probe.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
- disproof
Words that rhyme with proof
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of proof.
Questions about saying proof
How do you pronounce proof?
Say PROOF. The American pronunciation is /pruf/. In British English it is /pruːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in proof?
Proof is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PROOF.
Do Americans and Brits say proof the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pruf/ and the British form is /pruːf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.