HOW TO PRONOUNCE
mischief
/ˈmɪstʃəf/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:39
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Use two syllables, starting with “mis.”
The first syllable carries the stress. Follow it with ch, a light vowel, and f; the spelling does not call for an extra ee syllable in the middle.
2 syllables · Stress on syllable 1
TRY SAYING
“The puppy was always getting into mischief.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does mischief mean?
noun
- Conduct that playfully causes petty annoyance.
- A playfully annoying action.
- A nest or pack of mice or rats.
More meanings (8)
noun
- A criminal offence defined in various ways in various jurisdictions, sometimes including causing damage to another's property.
- The Devil; used as an expletive.
- Casual and/or flirtatious sexual acts.
- (archaic) Harm or trouble caused by an agent or brought about by a particular cause.
- (archaic) An injury or an instance of harm or trouble caused by a person or other agent or cause.
- (archaic) A cause or agent of annoyance, harm or injury, especially a person who causes mischief.
verb
- (obsolete) To do a mischief to; to harm.
- (obsolete) To slander.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈmɪstʃəf/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Their competition as workmen was resented as an injury, but their improved machinery was regarded as a far greater source of mischief.
"Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands to do," and he must have his hands full on board an emigrant ship.
More book examples (3)
It never throve, for I did it a private mischief, and though it grew up and is now a youth, it is—mad.’
Experience has taught us how unnecessary they are as auxiliaries of the public authorities--how impotent for good and how powerful for mischief.
I strongly object to the frequent administration of opening medicine, as the repetition of it increases the mischief to a tenfold degree.