Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

dandruff

/ˈdændɹəf/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.65 in modern English

Syllables
dan-druff
IPA
/ˈdændɹəf/
16
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis

Uncountable

verb

To fall or cover with white flakes, like dandruff.

Example Sentences

Etymology

The word is first attested in 1545; the first element is obscure, but compare dander. The second element derives from a Northumbrian or East Anglian Middle English hurf (“scab”), from Old Norse hrufa. Compare Dutch roof, Luxembourgish Roff. Related with Proto-Germanic *hreubaz, *hreufaz (“rough, scabby”), source of Old English hrēofla (“leprosy, leper”). More at reef (etymology 3).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: hurf, hrufa, *hreubaz

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈdændɹəf/
  • British English: /ˈdændɹʌf/

Usage

Inflected Forms

dandruffs (plural) dandriff (alternative, archaic) dandruffs (present, singular) dandruffing (participle, present) dandruffed (participle, past) dandruffed (past)

Derived Forms

antidandruff beardruff dander dandruffless dandrufflike dandruffy

Phrases

devil's dandruff leaping dandruff ocean dandruff walking dandruff

Synonyms

scurf

Questions

How do you pronounce dandruff?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈdændɹəf/.
What does dandruff mean?
scaly white dead skin flakes from the human scalp; Pityriasis capitis
Where does dandruff come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce dandruff

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