How to pronounce cotton
Say it like KOT-un. Cotton has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cotton. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOT
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cotton pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cotton
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KOT-un.
Other ways to say cotton
Cotton also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KAW-tun /ˈkɔtən/
What does cotton mean?
- soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state
- fabric woven from cotton fibers
- erect bushy mallow plant or small tree bearing bolls containing seeds with many long hairy fibers
- take a liking to“cotton to something”
Words that rhyme with cotton
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cotton.
Questions about saying cotton
How do you pronounce cotton?
Say KOT-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑtən/. In British English it is /ˈkɒtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cotton?
Cotton has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOT). Broken into parts: KOT · un.
Is cotton 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 /ˈkɒtən/ (KOT-un).