riff
/ɹɪf/noun, verb
riff is spelled R-I-F-F: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,122nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, riff means “A repeated melody line in a song, usually instrumental but sometimes vocal” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of riff is riffs.
How many letters and syllables are in riff?
| Letters | 4: R-I-F-F |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.5 times per million words; the 17,122nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is riff?
Riff appears 2.5 times per million words in written English, the 17,122nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce riff?
- /ɹɪf/
Riff has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-riff.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of riff
- riffs plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- riffing participle, present
- riffed participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does riff mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A repeated melody line in a song, usually instrumental but sometimes vocal.
Listen to one of the greatest guitar riffs of all time!
- 2
A clever or witty remark.
- 3
A variation on something.
- 4
A spoof.
- 5
archaicThe belly; the bowels.
verb
- 1
To improvise in the performance or practice of an art, especially by expanding on or making novel use of traditional themes.
- 2
To riffle.
- 3
To tell jokes over a movie or similar performance.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Riff in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does riff come from?
Uncertain. Perhaps a clipping of riffle, or an alteration of refrain.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).