How to pronounce cootie
Say it like KOO-tee. Cootie has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cootie. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOO
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cootie pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- teeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of cootie
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KOO-tee.
What does cootie mean?
- A louse (Pediculus humanus).
- Any germ or contaminant, real or imagined, especially from the opposite gender (for pre-pubescent children).“I’m not drinking from his glass until I wash the cooties off it.”
- A nest-building female American coot (counterpart to cooter).
Where does cootie come from?
Probably from Malay kutu (“flea, louse”) (and/or Tagalog/Māori).
Words that rhyme with cootie
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cootie.
Questions about saying cootie
How do you pronounce cootie?
Say KOO-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkuti/. In British English it is /ˈkuːti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cootie?
Cootie has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOO). Broken into parts: KOO · tee.
Is cootie 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 /ˈkuːti/ (KOO-tee).