How to pronounce meerkat
Say it like MEER-kat. Meerkat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce meerkat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEER
- kat
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Meerkat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- katKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of meerkat
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: MEER-kat.
What does meerkat mean?
- Suricata suricatta, a small carnivorous mammal of the mongoose family, from the Kalahari Desert, known for its habit of standing on its hind legs.
Where does meerkat come from?
From Afrikaans meerkat, transferred use of Dutch meerkat (“guenon [monkey]”), from Middle Dutch meercatte (literally “sea cat”), compare English mercat.
Questions about saying meerkat
How do you pronounce meerkat?
Say MEER-kat. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɪrkæt/. In British English it is /ˈmɪəˌkæt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in meerkat?
Meerkat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEER). Broken into parts: MEER · kat.
Is meerkat pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈmɪəˌkæt/ (MEER-kat).