How to pronounce tuff
Say it like TUHF. Tuff 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 tuff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TUHF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tuff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TUHFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of tuff
American and British speakers say tuff in essentially the same way: /tʌf/ in the US and /tʌf/ in the UK.
British respelling: TUHF.
What does tuff mean?
- A light porous rock, now especially a rock composed of compacted volcanic ash varying in size from fine sand to coarse gravel.
- Eye dialect spelling of tough.
Where does tuff come from?
From French tuffe, tuf, from Italian tufo, from Latin tōfus.
Words that rhyme with tuff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tuff.
Words that sound like tuff
Questions about saying tuff
How do you pronounce tuff?
Say TUHF. The American pronunciation is /tʌf/. In British English it is /tʌf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tuff?
Tuff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TUHF.
Do Americans and Brits say tuff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tʌf/ and the British form is /tʌf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as tuff?
Tuff sounds the same as tough in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.