Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bluff

/blʌf/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.58 in modern English

Syllables
bluff
IPA
/blʌf/
13
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one’s position in order to intimidate or deceive; braggadocio.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

An attempt to represent oneself as holding a stronger hand than one actually does.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The card game poker.

American usage; Dated; Uncountable

noun

One who bluffs; a bluffer.

Countable

noun

Pretense, excuse.

Countable; Dated; Slang; Uncountable

verb

To make a bluff; to give the impression that one’s hand is stronger than it is.

verb

To frighten, deter, or deceive with a false show of strength or confidence; to give a false impression of strength or temerity in order to intimidate or gain some advantage.

verb

To perform or achieve by bluffing.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Probably from Dutch bluffen (“to brag”), from Middle Dutch bluffen (“to make something swell; to bluff”); or from the Dutch noun bluf (“bragging”). Related to German verblüffen (“to stump, perplex”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /blʌf/
  • British English: /blʌf/

Usage

Inflected Forms

bluffs (plural) bluffs (present, singular) bluffing (participle, present) bluffed (participle, past) bluffed (past) bluffer (comparative) bluffest (superlative)

Derived Forms

counterbluff rebluff bluffable bluffer bluffingly outbluff unbluffed blufflike Bluffton blufftop bluffly bluffness

Phrases

all bluff and bluster at first bluff blind man's bluff bluff catcher bluff charge call someone's bluff double bluff post oak bluff

Synonyms

abrupt unceremonious blunt brusque Uptown Pittsburgh Pennsylvania bold sheer

Rhymes With

enough stuff tough rough buff puff cuff duff fluff snuff huff slough

Questions

How do you pronounce bluff?
The recorded pronunciation is /blʌf/.
What does bluff mean?
An act of bluffing; a false expression of the strength of one’s position in order to intimidate or deceive; braggadocio.
Where does bluff come from?
It is traced to Dutch.

How to pronounce bluff

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