How to pronounce "cliff"

cliff

Noun
American
/klɪf/

Syllable Breakdown

cliff

How natives say cliff

British
/klɪf/

Syllable Breakdown

cliff

How natives say cliff

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'kl' sound by combining the 'k' and 'l'.

  • The 'i' is pronounced like the short 'i' in 'bit'.

  • End with the 'f' sound, with your teeth on your lip.

Common Mistakes

  • k-liff (adding extra vowel)

  • klee-f (pronouncing 'i' as long 'e')

  • clifft (adding 't')

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'kl' sound by combining the 'k' and 'l'.

  • The 'i' is pronounced like the short 'i' in 'bid'.

  • End with the 'f' sound, with your teeth on your lip.

common mistakes

  • k-liff (adding extra vowel)

  • klee-f (pronouncing 'i' as long 'e')

  • clifft (adding 't')

FAQ

Is 'cliff' one or two syllables?

It is one syllable.

Is the 'i' in 'cliff' a long or short sound?

It's a short 'i' sound.

Are there silent letters?

No, there are no silent letters in 'cliff'.

Definition

cliff

A steep face of rock, earth, or ice.

Word Family

climb

/klaɪm/

verb

To move upwards

Example: They climb the mountain.

climber

/ˈklaɪmər/

noun

A person who climbs

Example: He is a mountain climber.

climatic

/klaɪˈmætɪk/

adjective

Relating to climate

Example: The climatic conditions are improving.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Cliff has a short 'i', climb has a diphthong 'ai'.

Cliff ends in '-f', climber ends in '-mer'.

The first syllable in 'climatic' is stressed differently.

Pro Tips

Keep it short

Remember that 'cliff' is pronounced with a short, sharp finish.

Watch the vowel

Focus on making the 'i' sound short and clear, like in 'bit'.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Cliff

adjoin

/əˈdʒɔɪn/

apartment

/əˈpɑrt.mənt/

applicable

/ˈæplɪkəbl̩/

arise

/əˈraɪz/

avenue

/ˈæv.ə.nuː/

backstage

/bækˈsteɪdʒ/

bench

/bɛntʃ/

beside

/bɪˈsaɪd/