How to pronounce catnip
Say it like KAT-nip. Catnip has two 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 catnip. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAT
- nip
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Catnip 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.
- nipKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of catnip
American and British speakers say catnip in essentially the same way: /ˈkætnɪp/ in the US and /ˈkætnɪp/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAT-nip.
What does catnip mean?
- Any of the about 250 species of flowering plant of the genus Nepeta, family Lamiaceae, certain of which are said to have medicinal qualities.
- Nepeta cataria and Nepeta grandiflora (and perhaps other species), which are well-known for causing an apparently harmless pheromone-based intoxication among certain cats.“Some cats go bonkers over catnip; others ignore it.”
- Something that causes excitement or interest.“Their outrage was catnip to the trolls who had deepfaked the video.”
Where does catnip come from?
Compound of cat + nep, nip (“catnip”), from Middle English nep, from Old English nepte, from Proto-West Germanic *nepetā, from Latin nepeta (“catnip”).
Questions about saying catnip
How do you pronounce catnip?
Say KAT-nip. The American pronunciation is /ˈkætnɪp/. In British English it is /ˈkætnɪp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in catnip?
Catnip has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT). Broken into parts: KAT · nip.
Do Americans and Brits say catnip the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkætnɪp/ and the British form is /ˈkætnɪp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.