How to pronounce cautious
Say it like KAW-shus. Cautious has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cautious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAW
- shus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cautious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- shusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cautious
American and British speakers say cautious in essentially the same way: /ˈkɔʃəs/ in the US and /ˈkɔːʃəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAW-shus.
What does cautious mean?
- people who are fearful and cautious“whitewater rafting is not for the timid”
- showing careful forethought“reserved and cautious; never making swift decisions”“a cautious driver”
- avoiding excess“a conservative estimate”
Where does cautious come from?
From cauti(on) + -ous.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cautious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cautious.
Questions about saying cautious
How do you pronounce cautious?
Say KAW-shus. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɔʃəs/. In British English it is /ˈkɔːʃəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cautious?
Cautious has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAW). Broken into parts: KAW · shus.
Do Americans and Brits say cautious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɔʃəs/ and the British form is /ˈkɔːʃəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.