of · off · oof
of /əv/ is a weak, unstressed function word ending in voiced /v/. off /ɒf/ is fully stressed, ending in voiceless /f/. oof /uːf/ is a long, rounded interjection — one letter rearranged, three completely different sounds.
One letter apart in spelling, but three very different words: of /əv/ is a weak, unstressed function word — the F is pronounced /v/. off /ɒf/ is fully stressed, with a voiceless /f/ and a wider-open vowel. oof /uːf/ is a completely different vowel again — long and rounded, like “roof”.
preposition — shows belonging or a part-of relationship — 'a cup of tea' · 'the end of the road' · 'a friend of mine'
mouth shape
unstressed schwa /ə/ + voiced /v/ — OV — one of the few English words where the letter F is pronounced /v/, not /f/
of
/əv/
vowel length
plays as: “a cup of tea”
preposition/adverb — away from, or not connected/switched on — 'get off the bus' · 'turn it off' · 'a day off'
mouth shape
short /ɒ/ — mouth opens wider than 'of' — then voiceless /f/, just a puff of air, no buzz
off
/ɒf/
vowel length
plays as: “turn it off”
interjection — expresses discomfort, exertion, or sympathy for someone else's misfortune — 'oof, that looked painful' · 'oof, I'm exhausted'
mouth shape
long /uː/ — lips very rounded and pushed forward, like 'roof', 'proof' — then voiceless /f/
oof
/uːf/
vowel length
Automated audio often mangles this interjection — check the YouGlish clips below for real speaker examples. Hear a real person say it ↓
Key difference
Put your fingers on your throat. of ends with a buzz — the /v/ is voiced, just like the ‘v’ in love. off and oof both end with no buzz, just air — a voiceless /f/, like the end of cough. The vowel is what tells off and oof apart: of is quick and swallowed (a schwa), off opens the mouth wide and short, and oof is long and rounded, with the lips pushed forward like “roof” or “proof”.
Good to know
“Of” is almost never stressed in natural speech — it often reduces even further to a very quick, light “uh” sound (‘cup of tea’ sounds like ‘cuppa tea’ in fast, casual speech). “Off” never reduces this way — it always keeps its full vowel and voiceless ending, even in fast speech.
Example sentences
of:“That’s very kind of you.”
of:“She’s a friend of mine.”
off:“Please take your shoes off.”
off:“I have the day off tomorrow.”
oof:“Oof, that fall looked painful.”
oof:“Oof, I’m exhausted after that run.”
Hear it in the wild
Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.
of
Hear native speakers say “of” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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off
Hear native speakers say “off” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
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oof
Hear native speakers say “oof” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.
Opens YouTube-sourced clips in a new tab.
How teachers explain this
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