How to pronounce rat
Say it like RAT. Rat 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 rat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of rat
American and British speakers say rat in essentially the same way: /ræt/ in the US and /ræt/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAT.
What does rat mean?
- any of various long-tailed rodents similar to but larger than a mouse
- someone who works (or provides workers) during a strike
- a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible“only a rotter would do that”“kill the rat”
- desert one's party or group of friends, for example, for one's personal advantage
- employ scabs or strike breakers in
- take the place of work of someone on strike
Where does rat come from?
Some of the Germanic cognates show considerable consonant variation, e.g.
Words that rhyme with rat
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rat.
Questions about saying rat
How do you pronounce rat?
Say RAT. The American pronunciation is /ræt/. In British English it is /ræt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rat?
Rat is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: RAT.
Do Americans and Brits say rat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ræt/ and the British form is /ræt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.