How to pronounce cuttlebone
Say it like KUHT-ul-bohn. Cuttlebone has three 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 cuttlebone. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUHT
- ul
- bohn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cuttlebone 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.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bohnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of cuttlebone
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KUHT-ul-bohn.
What does cuttlebone mean?
- Synonym of cuttlefish bone (“the calcareous, oval-shaped internal shell of a cuttlefish (order Sepiida), originally used in powdered form as an antacid and for absorbing moisture or polishing objects, and now chiefly as a dietary supplement for cage birds”).
Where does cuttlebone come from?
From Middle English cotilbone [and other forms], from cotil, cutil, codel (“cuttlefish; cuttlebone”) (from Old English cudele (“cuttlefish”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gew- (“to bend, to curve; an arch; a vault”)) + bon (“bone”)
Questions about saying cuttlebone
How do you pronounce cuttlebone?
Say KUHT-ul-bohn. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʌtəlˌboʊn/. In British English it is /ˈkʌtəlbəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cuttlebone?
Cuttlebone has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUHT). Broken into parts: KUHT · ul · bohn.
Is cuttlebone 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 /ˈkʌtəlbəʊn/ (KUHT-ul-bohn).