How to pronounce raccoon
Say it like ra-KOON. Raccoon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce raccoon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ra
- KOON
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Raccoon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- raKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- KOONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of raccoon
American and British speakers say raccoon in essentially the same way: /ræˈkun/ in the US and /rəˈkuːn/ in the UK.
British respelling: ruh-KOON.
What does raccoon mean?
- An omnivorous, nocturnal mammal native to the Americas, of the genus Procyon, typically with a mixture of gray, brown, and black fur, a mask-like marking around the eyes and a striped tail.
- The common raccoon (Procyon lotor).
- Any mammal of the subfamily Procyoninae, a procyonine.
Where does raccoon come from?
From arocoun (1608), from Powhatan ärähkun, from ärähkuněm (“he scratches with his hands”).
Words that rhyme with raccoon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of raccoon.
Questions about saying raccoon
How do you pronounce raccoon?
Say ra-KOON. The American pronunciation is /ræˈkun/. In British English it is /rəˈkuːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in raccoon?
Raccoon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KOON). Broken into parts: ra · KOON.
Do Americans and Brits say raccoon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ræˈkun/ and the British form is /rəˈkuːn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.