4 syllables: Ca, ccia, to, re. Stress on to.
kah-chuh-TAW-ree
/kɑtʃəˈtɔɹi/
Cacciatore is pronounced kah-chuh-TAW-ree (/kɑtʃəˈtɔɹi/). It has four syllables (Ca-ccia-to-re), with the stress on "to". Cacciatore is a masculine Italian noun meaning a hunter or someone who hunts, commonly used in culinary contexts to denote hunter-style preparations. In English contexts it appears as a loanword for dishes labeled “alla cacciatora.” The term carries rustic, traditional connotations and is used in menus, recipes, and discussions of Italian cuisine. It’s pronounced with Italian stress patterns and phonology, reflecting its origin without adopting English syllable-timing.
nounCacciatore is a masculine Italian noun meaning a hunter or someone who hunts, commonly used in culinary contexts to denote hunter-style preparations. In English contexts it appears as a loanword for dishes labeled “alla cacciatora.” The term carries rustic, traditional connotations and is used in menus, recipes, and discussions of Italian cuisine. It’s pronounced with Italian stress patterns and phonology, reflecting its origin without adopting English syllable-timing.
How to Pronounce Cacciatore
"The tagliatelle alla cacciatora features tomatoes, olives, and peppers."
"In the countryside, a cacciatore is literally a hunter who tracks game."
"We made a classic cacciatore sauce with mushrooms and wine."
Pronounce as ka-ccia-TO-reh in Italian phonology, with the stress on the third syllable: /kætʃ.ɪ.əˈtɔː.reɪ/ (US) or /ˌkætʃ.ɪ.ɒˈtɔː.rə/ (UK) and roughly /ˌkædʒ.ɪˈɑː.tɔːˈreɪ/ in some anglicized contexts. Break it into ca-ccia-to-re with a light 'ch' as in 'church' followed by a pure open o, and end with an -e that is more a soft é sound. Focus on the stress on the antepenultimate or penultimate depending on speaker. Tip: gently roll the tongue for the 'cc' sequence and keep the 't' crisp.
Common errors include misplacing stress (stress on the second or last syllable), mispronouncing the 'cc' as a hard 'k' without the palatal nuance, and anglicizing the final -ore as -or or -oray. Corrections: place primary stress on the third syllable (cca-cia-TO-re). Use a clear palatal 'cc' like 'ch' in church but with a subtly lighter release. End with an unrounded, short 'e' rather than a long English -ay.
US: stress often shifts toward the final syllable with a clearer 'o' and a softer 'r' at the end; UK: closer to Italian, with a rhotic less pronounced and a crisp final -e; AU: similar to US but with broader vowel sounds and more open final vowel; all maintain the palatal 'cc' and the 'ti' sound between 'cia' and 'to'.
Because it integrates a rare Italian palatal consonant cluster 'cc' (palatalized k), a stressed penultimate or antepenultimate syllable, and a final vowel that is often reduced or altered in English. English speakers tend to over-apply English stress patterns, misplace the stress, or anglicize vowels. The Italian phonology requires crisp consonants, precise tongue position for 'cc' and 'ti' sequences, and a steady, non-diphthong final 'e'.
Cacciatore features a core triad: a palatalized 'cc' (as in church), a mid- to high-front vowel sequence 'cia', and a final syllable with a clean Italian 'e' that can be realized as /e/ or /eɪ/ depending on speaker and language context. The correct primary stress sits on the third syllable and the overall cadence feels Italian rather than Anglophone.
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US: rhotics are pronounced; vowels slightly more lax; 'cia' combination stays crisp with a y-like glide? relative to 'ti'. UK: closer to Italian; final 'e' often clearer; Australian: vowel shifts similar to US but with more centralized vowels; keep palatal 'cc' and maintain a non-rhotic? Actually UK is non-rhotic; AU tends toward rhotic? In Australian English rhotics are often non-rhotic. IPA: US /kætʃ.ɪ.əˈtɔːr.eɪ/ , UK /ˌkætʃ.ɪˈɒ.tɔː.rɪ/ , AU /ˌkæ tʃiˈɒː.tɔː.ɹi/.
Cacciatore comes from Italian cacciatore, from the verb cacciare meaning to hunt (from Latin captare, to chase, seize). The root caccia- is tied to hunting and chase. In Italian, the noun form cacciatore denotes the person who hunts, often used for a hunter or gamekeeper. The term was borrowed into English most prominently through culinary usage in the 20th century to describe “alla cacciatora” style dishes. The first known use in English appears in mid-20th century culinary texts and menus, reflecting a translation of the Italian phrase into distinctive menu labeling. Over time, the word has traversed culinary literature and restaurant discourse, retaining its Italian phonology while becoming a recognizable loanword for rustic, hunter-style preparations. Its meaning in English has broadened slightly to denote the cooking method (e.g., sauce with tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms) associated with the hunt-and-stew tradition, rather than a literal person who hunts. In modern usage, it often appears in compound forms such as “pollo alla cacciatora” (chicken cacciatore) and appears in recipe titles and gastronomic discussions worldwide.
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Words that rhyme with "Cacciatore"
-tor sounds
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