How to pronounce tanuki
Say it like tah-NOO-kee. Tanuki has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOO).
- tah
- NOO
- kee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tanuki pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tahKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- NOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- keeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of tanuki
American and British speakers say tanuki in essentially the same way: /tɑˈnuki/ in the US and /təˈnʊkɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: tuh-NUUK-ih.
What does tanuki mean?
- A raccoon dog, Nyctereutes viverrinus.
- The joining of a living bonsai tree to a piece of dead wood for aesthetic effect.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- mangut
Words that rhyme with tanuki
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tanuki.
Questions about saying tanuki
How do you pronounce tanuki?
Say tah-NOO-kee. The American pronunciation is /tɑˈnuki/. In British English it is /təˈnʊkɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tanuki?
Tanuki has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOO). Broken into parts: tah · NOO · kee.
Do Americans and Brits say tanuki the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tɑˈnuki/ and the British form is /təˈnʊkɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.