How to Pronounce Cat

To pronounce "cat", say CAT — one syllable, IPA /kat/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

cat

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/kat/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “cat”

"cat" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with flat and caveat, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: kat, catt, katt — easy to mix up when writing.

What does cat mean?

noun

  1. An animal of the family Felidae:
  2. A person:

verb

  1. To hoist (the anchor) by its ring so that it hangs at the cathead.
  2. To flog with a cat-o'-nine-tails.

Synonyms

saber-toothsaber-toothed catfelinefeline catpantherinepantherine catCaniformiacarnivoran

Hear “cat” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with cat

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

flatcaveatbratpatcombatslatthatratdiplomatfatautocratwildcat

Related words

chuckcaterpillarvomitregurgitatespewregorgedisgorgeretch

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "cat"?▾

"Cat" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "cat"?▾

The IPA transcription of "cat" is /kat/.

What does "cat" mean?▾

Cat: An animal of the family Felidae:

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