How to pronounce wildcat
Say it like WYLD-kat. Wildcat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WYLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce wildcat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WYLD
- kat
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Wildcat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WYLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- katGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of wildcat
American and British speakers say wildcat in essentially the same way: /ˈwaɪldˌkæt/ in the US and /ˈwaɪldˌkæt/ in the UK.
British respelling: WYLD-kat.
What does wildcat mean?
- Felis silvestris, a common small Old World wild cat somewhat larger than a house cat.
- A bobcat (Lynx rufus) or other similar New World species of lynx.
- Any feral cat.
- Of or concerning customized or hand-made cartridges.
- Unauthorized by the proper authorities.
- To drill for oil in an area where no oil has been found before.“You'd have to be very rich or very desperate to go wildcatting that far east.”
Where does wildcat come from?
Its adjectival senses were originally American and derived from the "wildcat banks" of Michigan, following its elevation to statehood in 1837.
Questions about saying wildcat
How do you pronounce wildcat?
Say WYLD-kat. The American pronunciation is /ˈwaɪldˌkæt/. In British English it is /ˈwaɪldˌkæt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in wildcat?
Wildcat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WYLD). Broken into parts: WYLD · kat.
Do Americans and Brits say wildcat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwaɪldˌkæt/ and the British form is /ˈwaɪldˌkæt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.