How to pronounce tradeoff
Say it like TRAY-dawf. Tradeoff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tradeoff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TRAY
- dawf
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tradeoff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- dawfGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of tradeoff
American and British speakers say tradeoff in essentially the same way: /ˈtreɪˌdɔf/ in the US and /ˈtreɪˌdɒf/ in the UK.
British respelling: TRAY-dof.
What does tradeoff mean?
- An advantage or improvement that necessitates the corresponding loss or degradation of something else.“Improved graphics at the expense of battery life was a tradeoff the designers were willing to make.”
Where does tradeoff come from?
Deverbal from trade off.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tradeoff
How do you pronounce tradeoff?
Say TRAY-dawf. The American pronunciation is /ˈtreɪˌdɔf/. In British English it is /ˈtreɪˌdɒf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tradeoff?
Tradeoff has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TRAY). Broken into parts: TRAY · dawf.
Do Americans and Brits say tradeoff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtreɪˌdɔf/ and the British form is /ˈtreɪˌdɒf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.