Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

calf

/kæf/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.71 in modern English

Syllables
calf
IPA
/kæf/
9
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo.

noun

An awkward or silly boy or young man; any silly person; a dolt.

Dated; Informal

noun

The back of the leg below the knee.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English calf, from Anglian Old English cælf, calf (West Saxon ċealf), from Proto-West Germanic *kalb, from Proto-Germanic *kalbaz, further etymology unknown. Cognates * Scots caff (“calf”) * Scots calf (“calf”) * Scots cauf (“calf”) * Scots cawf (“calf”) * North Frisian Kualev (“calf”) * North Frisian kualew (“calf”) * North Frisian kuulew (“calf”) * Saterland Frisian Koolich (“calf”) * West Frisian keal (“calf”) * German Kalb (“calf”) * Luxembourgish Kallef (“calf”) * Limburgish kalf (“calf”) * Dutch kalf (“calf”) * Vilamovian kołb (“calf”) * Vilamovian kołp (“calf”) * Faroese kálvur (“calf”) * Icelandic kálfur (“calf”) * Danish kalv (“calf”) * Norwegian Bokmål kalv (“calf”) * Norwegian Nynorsk kalv (“calf”) * Swedish kalv (“calf”)

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: calf, cælf, *kalb, *kalbaz, kalfi

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /kæf/
  • British English: /kɑːf/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

box calf bull-calf bull calf bum calf calf eyes calf love cow-calf cow calf

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Homonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce calf?
The recorded pronunciation is /kæf/.
What does calf mean?
A young cow or bull of any bovid, such as domestic cattle or buffalo.
Where does calf come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce calf

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