Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

riff-raffy

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.72 in modern English

Syllables: rif-f-raffy
IPA

24

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Synonym of riffraffish.

Example Sentences

""Not Tunny and I," retorted the lady; "they are noisy, riffraffy, and smell of cowheel and codfish, - uncomfortable to polite minds, disrelishable to respectable society, and dangerous to genteel young ladies."
"Brunswick, always thinking ahead, kept improving the tone of bowling alleys, extending credit to potential bowling-alley proprietors, hiring architects and decorators to make sure the places wouldn't look riff-raffy."
"He was frettin' and fiddlin' over a new story 'bout that riff-raffy Huckleberry Finn."

Etymology

From riffraff + -y. First use appears c. 1850. See cite below.

Synonyms

riffraffish

Questions

What does riff-raffy mean?: Synonym of riffraffish.
Where does riff-raffy come from?: From riffraff + -y. First use appears c. 1850. See cite below.

How to pronounce riff-raffy

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “riff-raffy”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “riff-raffy”.
Repeat and practice — Say “riff-raffy” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.