How to pronounce cancan
Say it like KAN-kan. Cancan has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cancan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAN
- kan
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cancan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- kanGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of cancan
American and British speakers say cancan in essentially the same way: /ˈkænˌkæn/ in the US and /ˈkænˌkæn/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAN-kan.
What does cancan mean?
- A high-kicking chorus line dance originating in France.
- "Galop Infernal", a movement from Jacques Offenbach's opera Orpheus in the Underworld, commonly associated with and called the cancan.
- A trick where one leg is brought over the seat, so that both legs are on one side.
- To dance the cancan.
Where does cancan come from?
Borrowed from French cancan.
Questions about saying cancan
How do you pronounce cancan?
Say KAN-kan. The American pronunciation is /ˈkænˌkæn/. In British English it is /ˈkænˌkæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cancan?
Cancan has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAN). Broken into parts: KAN · kan.
Do Americans and Brits say cancan the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkænˌkæn/ and the British form is /ˈkænˌkæn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.