“Serf” or “Surf”—Which to use?

“Serf” or “Surf”

Overview

serf / surf are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇

Definitions

serf: (noun) (Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord.

surf: (noun) waves breaking on the shore. (verb) switch channels, on television.

Pronunciation

serf: s·ER·f

surf: s·ER·f

Trends

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Examples in Context

Examples of “serf”

…reducing the land of each serf and restricting their freedoms further…
…economy continued to depend on serfdom, and the increasing demands of…
…in this way could a serf leave the farm for which…
These were the privileges a serf was entitled to and that…
…limit the number of new serfs; she eliminated many ways for…
…these, the rights of a serf were very limited.
The life of a serf belonged to the state.
…theatre and arranged emancipation of serf actors.
…away from the idea of serf liberation following the violent uprising.
…unified state company, buying out serf actors from their private owners…

Examples of “surf”

…California, MWM from Hot Rod Surf in San Diego, Brando in…
…known by the common name surf thistle.
…due to fogs and heavy surf, the ship cruised off the…
…Vaganza, Scrawl, Jennyanykind and Nada Surf.
…the game's graphics and its surf music, and wrote that the…
…who competes in the World Surf League and debuted on the…
Episode 11 "Will It Surf" Featuring Andrew Cotton & Lyndon
For services to surf lifesaving and social welfare.
Category:2016 World Surf League
…Clear Lake, Iowa, at the Surf Ballroom, the site of Holly's…

(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)

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