Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

oof

/uf/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.15 in modern English

Syllables: oof
IPA: /uf/

6

Scrabble Score

3

Letters

1

Syllables

2

Unique Chars

Meaning

intj

A sound mimicking the loss of air, as if someone's solar plexus had just been struck.

intj

Synonym of ouch (“expressing sympathy at another's pain, shock at a high price, etc.”).

Slang

noun

A sound made in pain, as when expelling air after being struck.

noun

Something cringeworthy, or which arouses disappointment; often used in conjunction with the qualifier big.

noun

British usage; Dated; Slang; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"Whap, Biff, Ooooof, Sock, Pow, Zok! Batman is back. Gotham City is again leaving its law and order in the hands of a man who wears plastic underpants over his tights."
""Oof, you just lost a lot of progress. That's a real frustration, a real punch in the gut.""
"Oof. Well, what are the parameters with this question? Am I going to die? Is the world going to end? What’s…"
"The soldier on the ground clutched his head and then his stomach and gave an "oof" of pain."
"That is a mega oof."
"Fans were quick to express their disappointment at the removal of what has now become an iconic sound in the gaming space. The audio is trending on Twitter under #SaveTheOOF and Big Oof."

Etymology

Onomatopoeic, compare Dutch oef and German uff.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /uf/
British English: /uːf/

Usage

Inflected Forms

oofs (plural)

Derived Forms

oofless oofy

Phrases

feathered oof-bird make the oof-bird walk oof-bag oof-bird pad the oof

Synonyms

ouch ackers bees and honey blunt bones brass bread bread and honey Bugs Bunny cake cheddar cheese

Rhymes With

proof roof smoke proof woof spoof hoof aloof goof poof doof reproof floof

Questions

How do you pronounce oof?: The recorded pronunciation is /uf/.
What does oof mean?: A sound mimicking the loss of air, as if someone's solar plexus had just been struck.
Where does oof come from?: Onomatopoeic, compare Dutch oef and German uff.

How to pronounce oof

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