Pronunciation guide
How to pronounce buffet
buh-FAY (US) or BUU-fay (UK); the 't' is silent
US/bəˈfeɪ/
bəfeɪ
UK/ˈbʊf.eɪ/
bʊfeɪ
New to IPA symbols? Read the IPA guide.
Common mistake
The meal is 'buh-FAY', not 'BUFF-et' (which is the separate word meaning 'to strike').
What “buffet” means
A counter or sideboard from which food and drinks are served or may be bought.
Food laid out in this way, to which diners serve themselves.
In a sentence
- We arranged a buffet with a selection of salads and hot dishes.
- The buffet style allowed guests to serve themselves freely.
Definitions and examples are derived from Wiktionary, used under CC BY-SA 4.0, then edited by QuickPronounce. Pronunciation data draws on CMUdict.