2 syllables: cat, fish. Stress on cat.
KAT-fish
/ˈkæˌtfɪʃ/
catfish is pronounced KAT-fish (/ˈkæˌtfɪʃ/). It has two syllables (cat-fish), with the stress on "cat". Catfish is a compound noun or noun phrase referring to a freshwater or marine fish of the family Ictaluridae (in North America) or a person who pretends online to be someone else. It can also function as a verb in casual speech, meaning to lure or deceive someone online, especially about one’s identity. The term blends two simple morphemes into a familiar, everyday word that now carries a specific digital-age sense.
Catfish is a compound noun or noun phrase referring to a freshwater or marine fish of the family Ictaluridae (in North America) or a person who pretends online to be someone else. It can also function as a verb in casual speech, meaning to lure or deceive someone online, especially about one’s identity. The term blends two simple morphemes into a familiar, everyday word that now carries a specific digital-age sense.
"I caught a catfish while fishing at dawn."
"Online, she turned out to be a catfish, using a fake profile to chat with him."
"The documentary warns about catfishing—people misrepresenting themselves online."
You say CAT-fish, with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: /ˈkætˌfɪʃ/ for all three variants. Start with a short, open a-fronted æ vowel in CAT, then a light, clipped F for fish. The second syllable is weaker but clearly enunciated: /fɪʃ/. Practice by saying ‘cat’ quickly, then ‘fish’—the hat is open, the lips start relaxed, and the tongue stays low for /æ/ before moving into /f/ and /ɪ/ before /ʃ/.
Two frequent errors: misplacing the stress (saying CAThe fish) and elongating the vowel in the first syllable (/æ/ becoming /eɪ/ or /æː/). Correct by keeping the first syllable short and crisp: /ˈkæt/; and ensure /fɪʃ/ is even and light. Another mistake is pronouncing /t/ too strongly after /æ/, producing a choppy /t/; keep /t/ as a quick alveolar stop transitioning cleanly into /f/. Focus on switching from /æ/ to /f/ without gliding.
In US/UK/AU, the initial vowel remains /æ/ (CAT) with a similar /fɪʃ/ in all dialects, but rhoticity affects the /ɹ/ color only if an R is involved in connected speech—not in this word. The main variation comes from vowel length and quality of /æ/ in connected speech and the tempo of the second syllable. Australians may merge some vowels in fast speech but the core /ˈkætˌfɪʃ/ remains. Listen for a slightly crisper /t/ release in US urban speech.
The challenge lies in the quick transition from the tense /æ/ vowel to /f/ and then into /ɪ/ before /ʃ/. The /t/ in CAT is a delicate alveolar stop that should be unreleased or lightly released to avoid a hard stop breaking the flow. Another difficulty is the tip-of-the-tongue timing: you must release /t/ and immediately glide into /f/ without an intrusive vowel. Practicing with minimal pairs helps stabilize these transitions.
Notice the cluster boundary between /t/ and /f/: it should be clean, not a heavy /tf/ blend. Keep the /æ/ short and sharp, and avoid drawing out /ɪ/ in the second syllable. Emphasize a light, quick release from /t/ into /f/ to preserve the crisp first syllable and the smooth, almost whispered second syllable.
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Catfish combines cat- (a common noun for the mammal with sharp features and whisker-like barbels) and fish (the aquatic vertebrate). The term catfish in the context of online deception emerged in the early 2010s as digital culture popularized storytelling and online dating deception. The metaphorical use likely arose from the whisker-like barbels of actual catfish, which resemble the probing, often misleading questions and signals that deceive online audiences. While the fish sense is ancient, the pejorative sense of a deceptive online persona is a modern development tied to social media, dating apps, and online communities where someone may present themselves under false identities. Early popular usage appears in online forums and reality-based shows exploring online dating scams. Over time, “catfishing” has spread to mainstream media, becoming a widely recognized verb (to catfish) and noun (a catfish) with both literal and figurative meanings.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "catfish" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "catfish" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "catfish"
-ish sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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