How to pronounce stiff
Say it like STIF. Stiff 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 stiff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STIF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stiff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of stiff
American and British speakers say stiff in essentially the same way: /stɪf/ in the US and /stɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: STIF.
What does stiff mean?
- not moving or operating freely“a stiff hinge”
- powerful“a stiff current”“a stiff breeze”
- rigidly formal“a starchy manner”“the letter was stiff and formal”
- an ordinary man“a lucky stiff”“a working stiff”
- the dead body of a human being“the cadaver was intended for dissection”“the end of the police search was the discovery of a corpse”
- extremely“bored stiff”“frightened stiff”
- in a stiff manner“his hands lay stiffly”
Where does stiff come from?
The expected Modern English form would be /staɪf/; /stɪf/ is probably originally from compounds such as stiffly, where the vowel was shortened before a consonant cluster.
Words that rhyme with stiff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stiff.
Questions about saying stiff
How do you pronounce stiff?
Say STIF. The American pronunciation is /stɪf/. In British English it is /stɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stiff?
Stiff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STIF.
Do Americans and Brits say stiff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /stɪf/ and the British form is /stɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.