How to pronounce puff
Say it like PUHF. Puff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- PUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Puff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of puff
American and British speakers say puff in essentially the same way: /pʌf/ in the US and /pʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHF.
What does puff mean?
- smoke and exhale strongly“puff a cigar”“whiff a pipe”
- suck in or take (air)“draw a deep breath”“draw on a cigarette”
- breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted“The runners reached the finish line, panting heavily”
- a short light gust of air
- a light inflated pastry or puff shell
- exaggerated praise (as for promotional purposes)
- gathered for protruding fullness“puff sleeves”
Where does puff come from?
From Middle English puff, puf, from Old English pyf (“a blast of wind, puff”), from Proto-West Germanic *puf(f)- (“to blow, puff”), of imitative origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with puff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of puff.
Questions about saying puff
How do you pronounce puff?
Say PUHF. The American pronunciation is /pʌf/. In British English it is /pʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in puff?
Puff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say puff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pʌf/ and the British form is /pʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.