How to pronounce cutthroat
Say it like KUHT-throht. Cutthroat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cutthroat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHT
- throht
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cutthroat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- throhtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of cutthroat
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: KUHT-throht.
What does cutthroat mean?
- A murderer who slits the throats of victims.
- An unscrupulous, ruthless or unethical person.
- A three-player pocket billiards game where the object is to be the last player with at least one ball still on the table.
- Involving the cutting of throats.
- Of or relating to a card game where everyone plays for him or herself rather than playing with a partner.“He found that playing cutthroat Spades was much more difficult than playing with a partner.”
- Ruthlessly competitive, dog-eat-dog.“Law is a cutthroat business, you always have to look out to see who is trying to outdo you.”
Where does cutthroat come from?
From cut + throat.
Questions about saying cutthroat
How do you pronounce cutthroat?
Say KUHT-throht. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌtθroʊt/. In British English it is /ˈkʌtθrəʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cutthroat?
Cutthroat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHT). Broken into parts: KUHT · throht.
Is cutthroat pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈkʌtθrəʊt/ (KUHT-throht).