How to pronounce raucous
Say it like RAW-kus. Raucous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce raucous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- RAW
- kus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Raucous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- RAWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- kusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of raucous
American and British speakers say raucous in essentially the same way: /ˈrɔkəs/ in the US and /ˈrɔːkəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: RAW-kus.
What does raucous mean?
- Harsh and rough-sounding.“At night, raucous ruckus took place in the swamp.”
- Disorderly and boisterous.“Acts of vandalism were committed by a raucous gang of drunkards.”
- Loud and annoying.“The new neighbors had a raucous ruction in the small hours last night.”
Where does raucous come from?
Borrowed from Latin raucus (“hoarse, husky, raucous”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- rowdy
- strident
Words that rhyme with raucous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of raucous.
Questions about saying raucous
How do you pronounce raucous?
Say RAW-kus. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɔkəs/. In British English it is /ˈrɔːkəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in raucous?
Raucous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (RAW). Broken into parts: RAW · kus.
Do Americans and Brits say raucous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈrɔkəs/ and the British form is /ˈrɔːkəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.