Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

scruff

/skɹʌf/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.60 in modern English

Syllables: scruff
IPA: /skɹʌf/

14

Scrabble Score

6

Letters

1

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Someone with an untidy appearance.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Stubble, facial hair (on males).

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable

noun

Countable; Obsolete; Uncountable

noun

The loose skin at the back of the neck of some animals.

noun

The back of the neck, nape; also scruff of the neck.

verb

To lift or carry by the scruff.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"That candidate will never get the job: he's a right scruff."
"He grabbed his unruly child by the scruff of the neck, and took him home."
"She gently scruffed the kitten who was trying to climb her leg."

Etymology

See scurf.

Origin

Source language: Proto-Germanic

Word Breakdown

Root: -

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /skɹʌf/
British English: /skɹʌf/

Usage

Inflected Forms

scruffs (plural) scruffs (present, singular) scruffing (participle, present) scruffed (participle, past) scruffed (past)

Derived Forms

scruffy

Phrases

Apple scruff

Frequently Paired Words

scuff

Synonyms

nape nucha nuchal withers

Rhymes With

through enough enough is enough stuff fair enough tough rough cough dough buff bluff puff

Questions

How do you pronounce scruff?: The recorded pronunciation is /skɹʌf/.
What does scruff mean?: Someone with an untidy appearance.
Where does scruff come from?: It is traced to Proto-Germanic.

How to pronounce scruff

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