How to pronounce cuckoo
Say it like KUHK-oo. Cuckoo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cuckoo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHK
- oo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cuckoo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ooGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of cuckoo
American and British speakers say cuckoo in essentially the same way: /ˈkʌˌku/ in the US and /ˈkʊkuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: KUUK-oo.
Other ways to say cuckoo
Cuckoo also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- KOO-koo /ˈkuˌku/
What does cuckoo mean?
- Any of various birds, of the family Cuculidae within the order Cuculiformes, famous for laying its eggs in the nests of other species; but especially a common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), that has a characteristic two-note call.
- The sound of that particular bird.
- The bird-shaped figure found in cuckoo clocks.
- To make the call of a cuckoo.
- To repeat something incessantly.
- To take over the home of a vulnerable person for the purposes of carrying out organized crime in a concealed way.
- Crazy; not sane.“I think I'm going cuckoo!”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying cuckoo
How do you pronounce cuckoo?
Say KUHK-oo. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌˌku/. In British English it is /ˈkʊkuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cuckoo?
Cuckoo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHK). Broken into parts: KUHK · oo.
Do Americans and Brits say cuckoo the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkʌˌku/ and the British form is /ˈkʊkuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.