How to pronounce chaff
American English pronunciation
CHAF
- IPA
- /ˈtʃæf/
- Syllables
- CHAF (1 syllable)
Love words? Try a free round: no sign-up, about two minutes. Play free
What chaff means
The dry, useless husks that are separated from grain
In a sentence: The farmer tossed the grain into the breeze, and the light chaff blew away.
Where it comes from: It comes from an Old English word, and close cousins of it are found in Dutch and German.
Can you spot the real meaning? Try one
Loading a word…
Another meaning
To tease someone in a light, friendly way
In a sentence: Grandpa liked to chaff his old friends about their muddy boots, and they laughed right along with him.
Where it comes from: It is spelled the same as chaff, the husks of grain, which comes from Old English ceaf. No one is sure how the teasing meaning grew from it.
Can you spot the real meaning? Play Wordfib
One free round, no sign-up. Wordfib shows a word and four meanings: one real, three fibs.