How to Pronounce Cliff

To pronounce "cliff", say CLIFF — one syllable, IPA /klɪf/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

cliff

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/klɪf/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “cliff”

"cliff" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with stiff and whiff, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: clif, cliffe — easy to mix up when writing.

What does cliff mean?

noun

  1. A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.
  2. A point where something abruptly fails or decreases in value etc.

Synonyms

precipice

Hear “cliff” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with cliff

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

stiffwhiffbiffquiffglyphriffgliffsniffspifftiffziffgriff

Related words

drop-offescarpmentravinehillcollinehillsidegullyarroyo

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "cliff"?▾

"Cliff" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "cliff"?▾

The IPA transcription of "cliff" is /klɪf/.

What does "cliff" mean?▾

Cliff: A vertical (or nearly vertical) rock face.

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