How to pronounce pufferfish
Say it like PUHF-er-fish. Pufferfish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pufferfish. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHF
- er
- fish
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pufferfish 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- fishGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pufferfish
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PUHF-uh-fish.
What does pufferfish mean?
- Any species of fish of the family Tetraodontidae that have the ability to inflate themselves to a globe several times their normal size by swallowing water or air when threatened; puffer, blowfish, swellfish, balloonfish, globefish.
- The meat of these fish, a delicacy popular in Japan served raw as sushi that may, if improperly prepared, contain deadly levels of neurotoxins; (Japanese) fugu.
Where does pufferfish come from?
From puffer + fish.
Questions about saying pufferfish
How do you pronounce pufferfish?
Say PUHF-er-fish. The American pronunciation is /ˈpʌfɚˌfɪʃ/. In British English it is /ˈpʌfəˌfɪʃ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pufferfish?
Pufferfish has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHF). Broken into parts: PUHF · er · fish.
Is pufferfish pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈpʌfəˌfɪʃ/ (PUHF-uh-fish).