2 syllables: yu, suf. Stress on yu.
YOO-suhf
/ˈjuːsʌf/
yusuf is pronounced YOO-suhf (/ˈjuːsʌf/). It has two syllables (yu-suf), with the stress on "yu". Yusuf is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, often rendered as Joseph in English-speaking contexts. It denotes the Prophet Yusuf in Islamic tradition and carries cultural associations with leadership and wisdom. In phonetic use, it typically appears as a two-syllable sequence with a final 'f' or 'v' blend depending on language influence, and may be adapted to local pronunciation in non-Arabic settings.
Yusuf is a masculine given name of Arabic origin, often rendered as Joseph in English-speaking contexts. It denotes the Prophet Yusuf in Islamic tradition and carries cultural associations with leadership and wisdom. In phonetic use, it typically appears as a two-syllable sequence with a final 'f' or 'v' blend depending on language influence, and may be adapted to local pronunciation in non-Arabic settings.
"A local Imam introduced Yusuf as a guest speaker at the conference."
"Yusuf studied the life of Prophet Yusuf for his religious studies."
"In the Arabic community, Yusuf is pronounced with a soft end sound that varies by region."
Pronounce it as two syllables: /ˈjuː.suf/ (US/UK), with the first syllable rhyming with 'you' and the second syllable ending with a clear 'suf' where the 'f' is voiceless. In some Arabic-influenced varieties you may hear a shorter first vowel and a crisper final [f]. Stress is usually on the first syllable: YU-suf. Listen to native speakers on Forvo or YouGlish for exact voice timbre variations.
Common errors include merging the two syllables too quickly, producing /juːˈzʊf/ with a different vowel in the second syllable, and softening the final /f/ to a /v/ in some dialects. Correction: keep /juː/ as a long, tense vowel, then release into /suf/ with a crisp [s] before the [f]. Avoid secondary stress on the second syllable. Practice slow, then speed up, ensuring a clean [f] at the end.
US/UK often use /ˈjuː.sʊf/ or /ˈjuː.səf/ with an emphasis on the first syllable and a clear final /f/. Some UK variants may insert a schwa [ə] in the second syllable: /ˈjuː.səf/. Australian English tends toward /ˈjuː.sʊf/ with slightly less rhoticity, but the final /f/ remains. Arabic-influenced speakers may render the middle consonant softer, approaching [s] with less aspiration. Listen and mimic native speakers in context for best fit.
The difficulty lies in balancing the diphthong in the first syllable /juː/ with a crisp /s/ + /f/ sequence, and maintaining two syllables in a non-stressed, fast speech environment. Some learners substitute /j/ with a /y/ sound that blends into the vowel, or substitute /s/ with a voiced fricative. Focus on keeping the /juː/ pure, then articulate a precise /s/ followed by an unvoiced /f/. Segment and practice slowly.
There is no silent letter in standard pronunciations of 'yusuf'; the word is typically two syllables with primary stress on the first: YU-suf. Some dialects may reduce the first vowel slightly or flatten the second, but the consonants remain active: /j/ as a voiced palatal approximant, /s/ as voiceless alveolar fricative, /f/ as voiceless labiodental fricative. Keep stress on the first syllable and articulate each consonant clearly.
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The name Yusuf is the Arabic form of the Hebrew name Yosef (Joseph), meaning “God will increase” or “Jehovah increases.” It entered Arabic usage through Biblical and Qur’anic traditions, where Yosef is the prophet Yusuf, renowned for his wisdom and story of resilience. The root is Y-S-F, connected to Hebrew Yosef; in Arabic grammar the name is a proper noun with the definite article often implied in phrases (al-Yusuf). In many Muslim-majority regions, Yusuf is a common given name across cultures, with regional spellings (Yousif, Yousuf, Yusef, Yousouf) reflecting transliteration choices from Arabic script (يـوسـف) to Latin script. The name expanded into European and South Asian usage through trade, religious scholarship, and diaspora communities, maintaining the same semantic meaning while adapting to local phonology. First known written forms trace to Arabic texts and later to medieval translations of Biblical names, with the name appearing in various forms in genealogies and religious literature. Over time, the pronunciation has diverged, giving rise to multiple English renderings (Yosef, Josef, José, Yusuf) that align with phonotactic constraints of the recipient language. In contemporary usage, Yusuf often carries cultural and religious associations beyond its biblical origin, signaling heritage and tradition in conversational and ceremonial contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "yusuf" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "yusuf"
-uth sounds
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