How to pronounce wharf
Say it like WORF. Wharf 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 wharf. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WORF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wharf pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WORFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of wharf
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WAWF.
What does wharf mean?
- An artificial landing place for ships on a riverbank or shore.
- To secure by a wharf.
- To place on a wharf.
Where does wharf come from?
From Middle English wharf, from Old English hwearf (“heap, embankment, wharf”); related to Old English hweorfan (“to turn”), Old Saxon hwerf (whence German Werft and Warft), Dutch werf, Old High German hwarb (“a turn”), hwerban (“to turn”),
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with wharf
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of wharf.
Questions about saying wharf
How do you pronounce wharf?
Say WORF. The American pronunciation is /wɔrf/. In British English it is /wɔːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wharf?
Wharf is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WORF.
Is wharf pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /wɔːf/ (WAWF).