How to pronounce cataract
Say it like KAT-uh-rakt. Cataract has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cataract. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAT
- uh
- rakt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cataract pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- raktGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of cataract
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KAT-uh-rakt.
What does cataract mean?
- A (large) waterfall, specifically one flowing over the edge of a cliff.“The cataracts on the Nile helped to compartment Upper Egypt.”
- A flood of water; specifically, steep rapids in a river.
- An overwhelming downpour or rush; a flood.“His cataract of eloquence”
- A clouding of the lens in the eye leading to a decrease in vision.
- Something which obscures.
- Of a river, etc.: to fall in the form of a waterfall.
- To cause (something) to pour or rush like a waterfall.
Where does cataract come from?
The verb is derived from the noun.
Questions about saying cataract
How do you pronounce cataract?
Say KAT-uh-rakt. The American pronunciation is /ˈkætəˌrækt/. In British English it is /ˈkætərækt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cataract?
Cataract has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT). Broken into parts: KAT · uh · rakt.
Is cataract pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈkætərækt/ (KAT-uh-rakt).