How to pronounce cruelty
Say it like KROOL-tee. Cruelty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROOL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cruelty. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KROOL
- tee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cruelty pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KROOLSay 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 cruelty
American and British speakers say cruelty in essentially the same way: /ˈkrulti/ in the US and /ˈkrʊəlti/ in the UK.
British respelling: KROORL-tee.
What does cruelty mean?
- a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
- feelings of extreme heartlessness
- the quality of being cruel and causing tension or annoyance
Where does cruelty come from?
From Middle English cruelte, from Old French crualté (French cruauté), from Latin crudelitas.
Questions about saying cruelty
How do you pronounce cruelty?
Say KROOL-tee. The American pronunciation is /ˈkrulti/. In British English it is /ˈkrʊəlti/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cruelty?
Cruelty has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KROOL). Broken into parts: KROOL · tee.
Do Americans and Brits say cruelty the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkrulti/ and the British form is /ˈkrʊəlti/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.