# sniff vs staff

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### sniff
*verb · IPA /snɪf/ · frequency rank #16,349*
To make a short, audible inhalation, through the nose, as when smelling something.

### staff
*noun · IPA /stɑːf/ · frequency rank #888*
A long, straight, thick wooden rod or stick, especially one used to assist in walking.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sniff-vs-staff