How to pronounce cougar
Say it like KOO-gher. Cougar 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 cougar. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOO
- gher
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cougar 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.
- gherKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of cougar
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KOO-guh.
What does cougar mean?
- A wild feline, of species Puma concolor, native to the Americas.
Where does cougar come from?
From French couguar, from Portuguese cuguardo, a deformation of Brazilian Portuguese suçuarana (earlier çuçuarana), from Old Tupi sûasuarana.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cougar
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cougar.
Questions about saying cougar
How do you pronounce cougar?
Say KOO-gher. The American pronunciation is /ˈkuɡɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkuːɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cougar?
Cougar has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOO). Broken into parts: KOO · gher.
Is cougar pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈkuːɡə/ (KOO-guh).