How to pronounce staff
Say it like STAF. Staff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- STAF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Staff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STAFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of staff
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: STAHF.
What does staff mean?
- A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.
- A series of horizontal lines on which musical notes are written; a stave.
- People employed by a business or other organisation.“The company employed 10 new members of staff this month.”
- To supply (a business, volunteer organization, etc.) with employees or staff members.
Where does staff come from?
Sense of "group of military officers that assists a commander" and similar meanings, attested from 1702, is influenced by or is even from German Stab.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with staff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of staff.
Words that sound like staff
Questions about saying staff
How do you pronounce staff?
Say STAF. The American pronunciation is /stæf/. In British English it is /stɑːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in staff?
Staff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STAF.
Is staff pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /stɑːf/ (STAHF).
What words sound the same as staff?
Staff sounds the same as staph in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.