How to pronounce waft
Say it like WAHFT. Waft is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce waft. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/wɑft/WAHFT
UK British/wɒft/WOFT
- WAHFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Waft pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WAHFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of waft
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: WOFT.
What does waft mean?
verb
- To (cause to) float easily or gently through the air.“A breeze came in through the open window and wafted her sensuous perfume into my eager nostrils.”
- To be moved, or to pass, on a buoyant medium; to float.
- To give notice to by waving something; to wave the hand to; to beckon.
- A light breeze.
- Something (such as an odor or perfume) that is carried through the air.
- A flag used to indicate wind direction or, with a knot tied in the center, as a signal; a waif, a wheft.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with waft
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of waft.
Questions about saying waft
How do you pronounce waft?
Say WAHFT. The American pronunciation is /wɑft/. In British English it is /wɒft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in waft?
Waft is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WAHFT.
Is waft pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /wɒft/ (WOFT).