2 syllables: grif, fin. Stress on grif.
GRIF-in
/ˈɡɹɪfɪn/
griffin is pronounced GRIF-in (/ˈɡɹɪfɪn/). It has two syllables (grif-fin), with the stress on "grif". A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Used in literature, heraldry, and fantasy to symbolize guardianship and hybrid power. The word is commonly used as a proper noun in names and titles, and is also found in general discussion of mythic beings.
A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Used in literature, heraldry, and fantasy to symbolize guardianship and hybrid power. The word is commonly used as a proper noun in names and titles, and is also found in general discussion of mythic beings.
"The griffin perched atop the castle battlements, surveying the valley below."
"In the fantasy novel, a griffin guards the ancient treasure."
"She wore a pendant shaped like a griffin, symbolizing courage and nobility."
You say it as GRIF-in with two syllables. The stress is on the first syllable: /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/. The initial cluster gr- is pronounced with a hard g (as in grow), the short i in the first syllable sounds like the it in ‘kit’, and the final -in is a quick, unstressed schwa-like release. For reference, listen to standard pronunciations on dictionaries or Forvo; you want a clear short I, not a long ee. IPA: US /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/, UK /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/, AU /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/.
The two most common issues are pronouncing the first vowel too long (griff-een) and misplacing the final consonant as a separate syllable. Correct by keeping the first syllable crisp with /ɪ/ (as in 'kit') and making the second syllable a quick, reduced -ən. Avoid inserting an extra vowel between /f/ and /n; end with a clipped, light -n. Focus on not turning /ɪ/ into /iː/ in the second syllable, which changes the rhythm.
Across accents, the main variation is vowel quality and rhoticity. In General US, /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/ with a rhotic r but a short /ɪ/ in both syllables; in many UK accents, /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/ with non-rhoticity in some dialects leading to a slightly softened r before a vowel; in Australian English, /ˈɡrɪf.ɪn/ with a closer mouth position but similar vowel quality. All share two syllables and stress on the first; the r-coloring and vowel duration can shift subtly with accent.” ,
Because it blends a hard onset consonant cluster /gr/ with a short, lax first vowel /ɪ/ and a light, unstressed final syllable /ən/. Many speakers misplace the second syllable vowel as a full /iː/ or insert an extra vowel, creating /ˈɡrɪf.iːn/. The trick is to keep the second syllable short and do not lengthen the second vowel; practice rapid, two-syllable rhythm with the mouth releasing /ɪ/ quickly into a neutral /ən/.
Griffin has a straightforward two-syllable stress pattern with no silent letters. The key is not to overarticulate the second syllable; it should be light and quick, almost reduced, rather than full. The initial /ɡr/ cluster requires a firm, compact tongue position with the back of the tongue slightly raised toward the soft palate, then release into a short /ɪ/ before the dark-velar 'n' finish.
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The term griffin (also graphed as gryphon) traces to Late Latin griffinus, borrowed from Greek gryphōn. The root idea combines Greek gryps/gryph- meaning ‘hooked’ or ‘curved,’ with the -inos suffix forming adjectives or nouns tied to a creature. The oldest English attestations appear in the medieval period, likely via Latinized forms of Greek mythic vocabulary as crusading and scholarly texts reintroduced classical bestiaries to Europe. Across medieval bestiaries and heraldry, griffins symbolized guardianship of treasure, noble prowess, and a fusion of regal lion strength with keen eagle vigilance. The spelling variants gryphon/griffin reflect regional orthographic preferences and the general modern standardization toward griffin in English. In modern fantasy, the griffin has retained its emblematic hybrid identity, while becoming a common trope in literature, film, games, and art. Evolutionarily, the creature’s conceptual lineage stretches from classical Greco-Roman myth through medieval emblems to contemporary popular culture, with the name stabilizing in English around the 13th–15th centuries and continuing to resurface in modern proper nouns and creative works.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "griffin" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "griffin" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "griffin"
-fin sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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