How to pronounce cattle
Say it like KAT-ul. Cattle 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 cattle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAT
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cattle 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.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cattle
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KAT-ul.
What does cattle mean?
- domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age“so many head of cattle”“wait till the cows come home”
Where does cattle come from?
From Middle English catel, from Anglo-Norman catel (“personal property”), from Old Northern French (compare French cheptel, Old French chetel, chatel, also English chattel) from Medieval Latin capitāle, from Latin capitālis (“of the head”)
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cattle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cattle.
Questions about saying cattle
How do you pronounce cattle?
Say KAT-ul. The American pronunciation is /ˈkætəl/. In British English it is /ˈkætəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cattle?
Cattle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT). Broken into parts: KAT · ul.
Is cattle 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 /ˈkætəl/ (KAT-ul).