One syllable: Cut.
kuht
/kʌt/
Cut is pronounced kuht (/kʌt/). It has one syllable (Cut), with the stress on "Cut". Cut is a versatile verb meaning to divide or make an opening with a sharp edge, to reduce or trim something, or to interrupt or shorten a duration or sequence. In everyday use, it can describe slicing food, editing a video, or stopping a flow. Its pronunciation is short and clipped, often reducing the vowel and ending in a strong, unvoiced consonant. Context determines whether the action is literal or figurative.
verbCut is a versatile verb meaning to divide or make an opening with a sharp edge, to reduce or trim something, or to interrupt or shorten a duration or sequence. In everyday use, it can describe slicing food, editing a video, or stopping a flow. Its pronunciation is short and clipped, often reducing the vowel and ending in a strong, unvoiced consonant. Context determines whether the action is literal or figurative.
"I will cut the paper along the line with a clean edge."
"She cut the cake into eight slices for the guests."
"The editor cut several seconds from the scene for pacing."
Pronounce as /kʌt/. Start with a light aspirated /k/ release, move to the short vowel /ʌ/ (as in cup), then end with a crisp, unvoiced /t/. The mouth closes briefly for /t/ with the tongue tip behind the upper teeth, and the final /t/ should be released cleanly without voicing. In US/UK/AU, this remains /kʌt/ in most contexts. Audio reference: listen for a quick, clipped finish with no extra vowel after the /t/.
Two common errors: (1) Lengthening the vowel to /ʌː/ or /ɜː/ and adding voicing to the final /t/, making it sound like /kʌt̬/. (2) Releasing the /t/ with a hard stop followed by a following vowel, creating ‘cut-uh’ or a broken edge. Correction: keep the vowel short /ʌ/ and end with a quick, unvoiced /t/, with the tongue tip just behind the upper teeth and no extra vowel after release. Practice with a brief pause after /t/ to ensure clean closure.
In US, UK, and AU, /kʌt/ is standard, with minimal rhoticity impact since /r/ is not involved. US tends to have a slightly more lax /ɐ/–like /ʌ/ and crisper /t/ release in careful speech. UK may show a very short quality of /ʌ/ in some regions, with a clear, clipped /t/. Australian often exhibits a similar /ʌ/ vowel with a non-voiced, light /t/ and slightly more relaxed final consonant in casual speech. Overall, the core is /kʌt/ across all three, with minor vowel quality differences and pace.
The challenge lies in producing a short, lax vowel /ʌ/ quickly before a final, unvoiced /t/. In fast speech this vowel can verge on schwa-like qualities or reduce to almost nothing, and the final /t/ can become a flap or be elided by some speakers. You’ll also notice regional variations in vowel quality and final consonant release. Focus on a crisp /k/ onset, a compact /ʌ/ vowel, and a sharp /t/ release without voicing.
Is the /t/ in 'Cut' ever unreleased or silent in certain connected speech? Answer: In careful, careful speech you’ll usually hear a clear final /t/. In rapid connected speech, some speakers may devoice the /t/ or even assimilate into a glottal stop before a following consonant (for example, cutting something next to a pause), but that is more dialectal/colloquial. For most learners aiming standard pronunciation, keep the final /t/ audible and unvoiced.
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The verb cut derives from Old English cūtan or cǣtan, ultimately from Proto-Germanic kutanaz, linked to cutting and incising. Early senses emphasized carving or piercing and evolved to include more abstract notions like reducing quantity or interrupting flow. The word spread across Germanic languages with cognates in Old High German kutzan and Dutch kappen, reflecting the core concept of making an incision or separation. In Middle English, cut appeared in a variety of senses tied to cutting or separating materials, as well as cutting short a duration or course, and it gradually acquired figurative meanings (cut a deal, cut losses). By Early Modern English, cut was firmly established as a high-frequency verb with both literal and metaphorical applications, reinforced by its strong, voiceless final consonant /t/ and a short, lax vowel in many dialects. First known written attestations appear in medieval texts, with broader usage in the Renaissance and later, aligning with advances in craftsmanship, editing, and figurative language that rely on the metaphor of making a cut or incision.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cut" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cut" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cut"
-hut sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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