How to pronounce sheriff
Say it like SHER-uf. Sheriff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sheriff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SHER
- uf
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sheriff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SHERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ufKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sheriff
American and British speakers say sheriff in essentially the same way: /ˈʃɛrəf/ in the US and /ˈʃɛrɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: SHER-if.
What does sheriff mean?
- the principal law-enforcement officer in a county
Where does sheriff come from?
Inherited from Middle English shirreve, in turn inherited from Old English sċīrġerēfa, corresponding to shire + reeve.
Words that rhyme with sheriff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sheriff.
Questions about saying sheriff
How do you pronounce sheriff?
Say SHER-uf. The American pronunciation is /ˈʃɛrəf/. In British English it is /ˈʃɛrɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sheriff?
Sheriff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SHER). Broken into parts: SHER · uf.
Do Americans and Brits say sheriff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʃɛrəf/ and the British form is /ˈʃɛrɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.