2 syllables: ba, ffle. Stress on ba.
BAF-uhl
/ˈbæfəl/
baffle is pronounced BAF-uhl (/ˈbæfəl/). It has two syllables (ba-ffle), with the stress on "ba". Baffle is a verb meaning to confuse or perplex someone, or to obstruct or impede something. It can also refer to a device inserted to restrain or control flow or sound. In usage, it often conveys puzzlement or obstruction in both cognitive and physical contexts.
Baffle is a verb meaning to confuse or perplex someone, or to obstruct or impede something. It can also refer to a device inserted to restrain or control flow or sound. In usage, it often conveys puzzlement or obstruction in both cognitive and physical contexts.
"The magician's trick will baffle the audience."
"Her careful explanations only served to baffle me further."
"Engineers installed a baffling panel to reduce noise in the chamber."
You pronounce it as /ˈbæfəl/ in US and UK English. The first syllable carries primary stress: BAFF-, followed by a softer -le. Mouth positions: start with a short, open front vowel /æ/ as in cat, then close to a schwa-ish /ə/ for the final syllable. Tip: emphasize the vowel in BAFF and keep the second syllable light and quick. An audio model would be helpful for confirmation, but you’ll hear the strong initial beat in careful speech.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (say BAFF-ble with one- syllable rhythm rather than two), pronouncing the final syllable as a full vowel rather than a reduced /əl/ (e.g., /ˈbæfəl/ vs /ˈbæfəl/ with a hard l at the end), and confusing /æ/ with /a/ in fast speech. Correction: keep the first syllable strong with /æ/ as in bath and reduce the final syllable to /əl/ by lightly touching the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge and letting the vowel weaken into an schwa. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation and then blend.
In all three accents, the word begins with /b/ and uses a stressed /æ/ vowel. US and UK are similar: /ˈbæfəl/. Australians may show a slightly more centralized or shorter /ə/ in the second syllable and a softer final /l/ with less rhotic influence, but the core BAFF- initial stress remains. The rhotic vs non-rhotic distinction affects surrounding words, not the core /ˈbæfəl/ pronunciation. Listen for a crisp initial /b/ and a light, quick /əl/ ending.
Two main challenges: the second syllable reduces to /əl/, which can be tricky if you’re not using a true schwa and you over-articulate the /l/. The initial stressed /æ/ can be mispronounced as /eɪ/ or shortened in fast speech, shifting the rhythm. The blend between /f/ and /l/ sometimes causes a subtle l-partial vowel or a consonant cluster that’s hard to nest in fluent speech. Practice slows you down and creates muscle memory for the sequence /ˈbæfəl/.
The word’s stress pattern (two-syllable word with strong first syllable) and the reduced second syllable are common sources of confusion. Additionally, learners often mispronounce it with a strong-t- or d-like ending or with a drawn-out /əl/. The key to clarity is crisp onset in /bæ/ and a quick, weak ending /fəl/ where the tongue moves from the bilabial /b/ to the alveolar /f/ and then tap/clear the /əl/ into a soft release. Keep your lips slightly rounded for /b/ then relax into /æ/ and /f/.”]},
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Baffle comes from the late 16th century English word baffler, meaning a barrier or device to prevent a draft or flow. The root is likely imitative, echoing the sense of obstructing or stopping. The term evolved to include figurative meanings—confounding or perplexing someone—by the 18th century as technology and rhetoric adopted the notion of blocking or stalling understanding. The phrase “to baffle someone” appears in 18th-century prose to describe puzzles and questions that resist easy answers. Over time, baffle broadened to cover both physical obstruction and cognitive confusion, and in modern usage it frequently collocates with speakers, questions, and designs intended to reduce interference or misdirection. First known uses tend to appear in engineering and nautical contexts, where barriers or screens slow or redirect flow, expanding into metaphorical use as policies, explanations, or tricks confound comprehension.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "baffle" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "baffle" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "baffle"
-fle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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