How to pronounce stuff
Say it like STUHF. Stuff 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 stuff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stuff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of stuff
American and British speakers say stuff in essentially the same way: /stʌf/ in the US and /stʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: STUHF.
What does stuff mean?
- the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object“coal is a hard black material”“wheat is the stuff they use to make bread”
- miscellaneous unspecified objects“the trunk was full of stuff”
- informal terms for personal possessions“did you take all your clobber?”
- cram into a cavity“The child stuffed candy into his pockets”
- press or force“Stuff money into an envelope”“She thrust the letter into his hand”
- obstruct“My nose is all stuffed”“Her arteries are blocked”
Where does stuff come from?
From Middle English stuf, stuffe, from Anglo-Latin stuffa and its etymon Old French estofe, estoffe, estuf, estuffe, stoffe, from estoffer, estofer (“to provide what is necessary, equip, stuff”), borrowed from Old High German stoffōn, from
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with stuff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stuff.
Questions about saying stuff
How do you pronounce stuff?
Say STUHF. The American pronunciation is /stʌf/. In British English it is /stʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stuff?
Stuff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say stuff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /stʌf/ and the British form is /stʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.