How to pronounce duck
Say it like DUHK. Duck is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce duck. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DUHK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Duck pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of duck
American and British speakers say duck in essentially the same way: /dʌk/ in the US and /dʌk/ in the UK.
British respelling: DUHK.
What does duck mean?
- to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away“Before he could duck, another stone struck him”
- submerge or plunge suddenly
- dip into a liquid“He dipped into the pool”
- small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
- (cricket) a score of nothing by a batsman
- flesh of a duck (domestic or wild)
Where does duck come from?
Related to Scots dulk (“to duck”), Middle Dutch ducken (“to duck”), Low German ducken (“to duck”), German ducken (“to duck”), Danish dukke, dykke (“to dive”).
Words that rhyme with duck
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of duck.
Questions about saying duck
How do you pronounce duck?
Say DUHK. The American pronunciation is /dʌk/. In British English it is /dʌk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in duck?
Duck is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DUHK.
Do Americans and Brits say duck the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʌk/ and the British form is /dʌk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.