How to Pronounce Staff

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

staff

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying staff, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ˈstæf/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “staff”

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

Sounds exactly like: staph — easy to mix up when writing.

What does staff mean?

noun

  1. (plural staffs or staves) A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.
  2. (plural staves) A series of horizontal lines on which musical notes are written; a stave.

verb

  1. To supply (a business, volunteer organization, etc.) with employees or staff members.

Synonyms

personnelstave

Hear “staff” 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 staff

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

gafchaffgafflaughepitaphgaffecarafehalfgiraffesclaffphotographriffraff

Related words

stavefacultyrodbatonalpenstockbedsideboxequipment

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "staff"?▾

"Staff" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "staff"?▾

The IPA transcription of "staff" is /ˈstæf/.

What does "staff" mean?▾

Staff: (plural staffs or staves) A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “staff” in the full dictionary →