How to pronounce correct
Say it like kuh-REKT. Correct has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REKT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce correct. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kuh
- REKT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Correct pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- REKTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of correct
American and British speakers say correct in essentially the same way: /kəˈrɛkt/ in the US and /kəˈrɛkt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kuh-REKT.
What does correct mean?
- make right or correct“Correct the mistakes”“rectify the calculation”
- make reparations or amends for“right a wrongs done to the victims of the Holocaust”
- censure severely“She chastised him for his insensitive remarks”
- free from error; especially conforming to fact or truth“the correct answer”“the correct version”
- socially right or correct“it isn't right to leave the party without saying goodbye”“correct behavior”
- in accord with accepted standards of usage or procedure“what's the right word for this?”“the right way to open oysters”
Where does correct come from?
Borrowed from French correct, from Latin correctus (“improved, amended, correct”), past participle of corrigere, conrigere (“to make straight, make right, make better, improve, correct”), from con- (“together”) + combining form of regō, reg
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with correct
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of correct.
Questions about saying correct
How do you pronounce correct?
Say kuh-REKT. The American pronunciation is /kəˈrɛkt/. In British English it is /kəˈrɛkt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in correct?
Correct has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REKT). Broken into parts: kuh · REKT.
Do Americans and Brits say correct the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəˈrɛkt/ and the British form is /kəˈrɛkt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.