2 syllables: Rac, oon. Stress on Rac.
RAK-oon
/ˈrækuːn/
Racoon is pronounced RAK-oon (/ˈrækuːn/). It has two syllables (Rac-oon), with the stress on "Rac". Racoon is a noun referring to a small, nocturnal mammal of North America, typically characterized by a masked face and ringed tail. It is commonly spelled raccoon, though racoon is a common misspelling. In usage, it can denote the animal itself or, in playful contexts, be part of nicknames or colloquial references. The pronunciation given reflects a two-syllable pattern with emphasis on the second syllable.
nounRacoon is a noun referring to a small, nocturnal mammal of North America, typically characterized by a masked face and ringed tail. It is commonly spelled raccoon, though racoon is a common misspelling. In usage, it can denote the animal itself or, in playful contexts, be part of nicknames or colloquial references. The pronunciation given reflects a two-syllable pattern with emphasis on the second syllable.
"The raccoon rummaged through the trash cans at night."
"We spotted a raccoon near the riverbank, watching us curiously."
"A raccoon’s bandit-like mask helps it blend into the shadows."
Pronounce as ra-COON with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: /rəˈkuːn/. Start with an unstressed schwa /rə/ then move to a long oo as in 'moon' /uː/ and end with /n/. Lip rounding is moderate for /uː/. Visualize: relaxed jaw, tip of tongue near the roof of your mouth for /r/, then a quick /ə/ before the long /uː/. Audio reference: imagine saying 'ruh-COON' with emphasis on the second syllable.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress on the first syllable (ra-COON) and shortening the final vowel to a short /ʌ/ or /ɒ/. Another frequent mistake is pronouncing /r/ as a tapped /ɾ/ or a rolled trill in American speech. To correct: keep the /ə/ unstressed and ensure the second syllable holds a full /uː/ with lip rounding; avoid reducing /ə/ into a full syllable before /uː/ by not adding extra vowel sounds.
All three accents share /rəˈkuːn/ but differ subtly. US and UK typically maintain rhotic rhymes with a clear /r/ and a long /uː/ in many dialects; AU usually has a slightly more centralized /ə/ in the first syllable and a bright /uː/ with possibly a less pronounced rhoticity. In fast speech, some speakers reduce /rə/ to a weaker schwa. In all cases, the second syllable carries primary stress and lengthened /uː/.
The difficulty mainly stems from the two-syllable rhythm with a strong secondary vowel in the first syllable and a long vowel in the second, which can be mispronounced as ra-CUN or ra-koon with a short /u/. The schwa in the first syllable and the need for precise lip rounding on /uː/ require careful articulation. Coordinating the stop /k/ and nasal /n/ without vowel break is another subtlety.
The unique feature to highlight is the long /uː/ in the second syllable preceded by a stressed syllable with /kuːn/. Emphasize the /ˈkuːn/ portion while ensuring the preceding /rə/ remains unstressed. This contrasts with many two-syllable animal names where the stress might fall on the first syllable. Listening for the elongated second syllable and the final /n/ can help verify accuracy.
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The word raccoon derives from the Algonquian word aroughcun or toroucon, via Native American languages, ultimately adopted into English as racoon and later standardized to raccoon in the 19th century. Early spellings varied, including racoon and racoon, reflecting attempts to approximate the Anishinaabe and Algonquian pronunciations. The name likely references the animal’s facial markings or mask-like appearance. The term entered widespread use in American English as settlers encountered the species across North America, particularly in river valleys and forests where it is abundant. Over time, the word was solidified in dictionaries, with the conventional spelling raccoon, now standard, and racoon persisting as a recognized misspelling or informal variant. First known usage traces to colonial-era texts and natural history accounts, with the animal being described by early naturalists who documented its nocturnal habits and dexterous paws. The semantic core remained stable: a small, nocturnal omnivore with distinctive facial markings, though regional pronunciations and spelling variants continued to appear in regional dialects and literature.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Racoon" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Racoon"
-oom sounds
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