How to pronounce sniff
Say it like SNIF. Sniff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sniff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SNIF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sniff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SNIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of sniff
American and British speakers say sniff in essentially the same way: /snɪf/ in the US and /snɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: snif.
What does sniff mean?
- To make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as when smelling something; to smell (something).“The dog sniffed around the park, searching for a nice scent.”
- To say (something) while sniffing, such as in case of illness or unhappiness, or in contempt.“"He's never coming back, is he?" she sniffed while looking at a picture of him.”
- To inhale drugs (usually cocaine) through the nose, usually in powder form.
- An instance of sniffing.“She gave the flowers a quick sniff to check they were real.”
- A quantity of something that is inhaled through the nose.
- A brief perception, or tiny amount.
- A short inhalation sound, sometimes associated with crying.
Where does sniff come from?
From Middle English sniffen, of imitative origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sniff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sniff.
Questions about saying sniff
How do you pronounce sniff?
Say SNIF. The American pronunciation is /snɪf/. In British English it is /snɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sniff?
Sniff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SNIF.
Do Americans and Brits say sniff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /snɪf/ and the British form is /snɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.