How to pronounce cockatoo
Say it like KOK-uh-too. Cockatoo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cockatoo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOK
- uh
- too
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cockatoo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of cockatoo
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOK-uh-too.
What does cockatoo mean?
- A bird of the family Cacatuidae with a curved beak and a zygodactyl foot.“We saw some cockatoos in the aviary.”
Where does cockatoo come from?
Borrowed from Dutch kaketoe, borrowed from Malay kakaktua.
Questions about saying cockatoo
How do you pronounce cockatoo?
Say KOK-uh-too. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑkəˌtu/. In British English it is /ˈkɒkəˌtuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cockatoo?
Cockatoo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOK). Broken into parts: KOK · uh · too.
Is cockatoo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒkəˌtuː/ (KOK-uh-too).