2 syllables: car, toon. Stress on toon.
kahr-TOON
/kɑˈɹtun/
cartoon is pronounced kahr-TOON (/kɑˈɹtun/). It has two syllables (car-toon), with the stress on "toon". Cartoon refers to a simplified, humorous drawing or animation, often conveying a satirical or playful narrative. It can describe both still drawings in prints and moving animations in media. In everyday use, cartoon also functions as an informal noun for animated shows and as an adjective describing exaggerated, lighthearted style. The term encompasses both the artwork and its fictional, lighthearted tone.
Cartoon refers to a simplified, humorous drawing or animation, often conveying a satirical or playful narrative. It can describe both still drawings in prints and moving animations in media. In everyday use, cartoon also functions as an informal noun for animated shows and as an adjective describing exaggerated, lighthearted style. The term encompasses both the artwork and its fictional, lighthearted tone.
"The new cartoon series airs every Saturday night."
"He drew a cartoon of his boss, then apologized for the joke."
"Cartoon characters often have exaggerated facial features for comedic effect."
Pronounce it as two syllables: ˈkɑːr.tuːn (US) or ˈkɑː.tuːn (UK/AU). Start with the open-back low vowel /ɑː/ in the first syllable, then a strong rhotic or non-rhotic coda depending on accent, and end with /uːn/. The stress is on the first syllable: CAR-oon. Lip rounding is moderate on the second syllable; keep the tongue relaxed after the /r/ in US, and after the /k/ in non-rhotic UK/AU where the r may be silent. For accuracy, think: cat-roon without the ‘t’ sound becoming an abrupt release; the /t/ in the middle is light but present. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying ‘cartoon’ on reputable dictionaries or Pronounce, and mimic the rhythm.” ,
Common errors include merging the syllables into one: /ˈkɔːrtun/ or /kɑːrˈtuːn/ with mis-stressed second syllable, or flattening the /r/ in US/non-rhotic UK leading to /ˈkɑː.tuːn/ without the American rhotic color. Another mistake is mispronouncing the middle /r/ as a stop rather than a smooth rhotic or linking the /r/ to the following /t/ causing a tense-t/cluster. Correction: keep a clear /r/ sound (or linking to the next syllable’s vowel in rhotic accents), maintain a light but present /t/, and ensure the second syllable has a long /uː/ with proper lip rounding. Practice with minimal pairs like cartoon vs cartune in controlled drills; listen to Pronounce and mimic native voices.” ,
In US English, you hear a rhotic /r/ in the first syllable: /ˈkɑɹ.tuːn/ with a clear /ɹ/ and a stressed first syllable. UK English tends to be non-rhotic; you’ll hear /ˈkɑː.tuːn/ with a lengthened first vowel and the /r/ omitted before the following vowel, making it sound like ‘kar-poon’ without the rhotic. Australian English is rhotic like US but often with a slightly flatter vowel in /ɑː/ and a crisp /t/; the /ː/ length can vary, but stress remains on the first syllable. Always listen to local broadcasters to calibrate. IPA: US ˈkɑɹˌtuːn, UK ˈkɑː.tuːn, AU ˈkɑː.tuːn.
The difficulty comes from balancing the open low vowel /ɑː/ in the first syllable with the following /ɹ/ (or lack thereof in non-rhotic accents) and producing a smooth transition to /tuːn/. The consonant cluster around the middle— /r/ and /t/—requires precise timing to avoid a heavy /t/ or a glottal stop. For some speakers, vowel length in the second syllable and lip rounding on /uː/ are subtle. Focus on keeping the /ɑː/ stable, achieving a clean /ɹ/ (or silent r), and ensuring the /t/ links softly to /uːn/. IPA cues: US /ˈkɑɹˌtuːn/; UK/AU /ˈkɑː.tuːn/.
Yes, in careful speech the /t/ is pronounced lightly between the /r/ (or vowel) and the /uːn/. It’s not silent, but not strongly released. In casual speech, some speakers may reduce it or link the /t/ into a quick /t/ or flap, depending on tempo. The key is a subtle, crisp release to avoid running the middle into a single vowel. Practice with slow syllable isolation: /ˈkɑːr/ + /tuːn/ or /ˈkɑː.tuːn/ and compare with a rapid version to train timing.
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Cartoon originates from the Italian word cartone meaning thick,waxed paper or cardboard, used for preliminary drawings. In 19th-century English, cartoon described preparatory sketches or drafts for larger works, often on paper (cartone in Italian). The sense broadened in the 1840s to include humorous or satiric illustrations published in magazines; by the early 20th century, it had come to denote animated films and the modern comic-strip form. Its evolution tracks from artisanal preparatory drawings to mass-media visuals—central to newspaper cartoons and early animated shorts. The term’s shift reflects a move from a material literal sense (cartone) to a genre/specifically, a stylized, exaggerated visual style used for humor and storytelling. First known usage in English appears in mid- to late-1800s print anthologies; by the 1900s, it described animation and satirical illustrations alike, and by mid-20th century became ubiquitous in referencing animated entertainment.
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Words that rhyme with "cartoon"
-oon sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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