How to pronounce strafe
Say it like STRAYF. Strafe 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 strafe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STRAYF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Strafe pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STRAYFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of strafe
American and British speakers say strafe in essentially the same way: /streɪf/ in the US and /streɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: STRAYF.
What does strafe mean?
- To attack (ground targets) with automatic gunfire from a low-flying aircraft.
- To rake (a target) with rapid or automatic gunfire.
- To reprimand severely.
- A heavy artillery bombardment.
- An attack of machine-gun or cannon fire from a low-flying aircraft.
- A sideways movement without turning.
Where does strafe come from?
Borrowed from German strafe (“punish”) (a conjugated form of strafen), from phrases like Gott strafe England (“God punish England”) which the British saw during the First World War.
Words that rhyme with strafe
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of strafe.
Questions about saying strafe
How do you pronounce strafe?
Say STRAYF. The American pronunciation is /streɪf/. In British English it is /streɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in strafe?
Strafe is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STRAYF.
Do Americans and Brits say strafe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /streɪf/ and the British form is /streɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.