How to pronounce whiff
Say it like WIF. Whiff 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 whiff. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Whiff pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of whiff
American and British speakers say whiff in essentially the same way: /wɪf/ in the US and /wɪf/ in the UK.
British respelling: WIF.
What does whiff mean?
- A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.
- A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.
- An odor (usually unpleasant) carried briefly through the air.
- To carry or convey (something) by, or as by, a whiff or puff of air; to blow, puff, or waft away.
- To say (something) with an exhalation of breath.
- To inhale or exhale (smoke from tobacco, etc.) from a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement; to smoke (a cigarette, pipe, etc.); to puff.
- Having a strong or unpleasant odor.
Where does whiff come from?
The interjection is derived from noun sense 7.4 (“a sound like that of air passing through a small opening; a short or soft whistle”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with whiff
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of whiff.
Questions about saying whiff
How do you pronounce whiff?
Say WIF. The American pronunciation is /wɪf/. In British English it is /wɪf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in whiff?
Whiff is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WIF.
Do Americans and Brits say whiff the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wɪf/ and the British form is /wɪf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.