tuh-tuh
/tətə/
Tutu is pronounced tuh-tuh (/tətə/). Tutu is a noun referring to a lightweight, stiff skirt worn by ballet dancers, typically layered and flaring at the hips; it also denotes a two-part name for the child’s skirt in some contexts. In ballet, it implies a classical, performance-focused garment. The term can also appear in other cultural contexts as a diminutive or playful reference to the skirt style.
nounTutu is a noun referring to a lightweight, stiff skirt worn by ballet dancers, typically layered and flaring at the hips; it also denotes a two-part name for the child’s skirt in some contexts. In ballet, it implies a classical, performance-focused garment. The term can also appear in other cultural contexts as a diminutive or playful reference to the skirt style.
- You may over- shorten the second syllable, giving you a punchy 'TOO-too' that lacks steady rhythm. Keep both syllables equal in length by timing roughly the same as your first syllable. - People often reduce the vowel in the second syllable, saying 'TOO-tuh' or 'TOO-tew.' Ensure you keep a full, rounded /uː/ in both syllables and a clear /ˈtuː/ stress. - Another error is slurring into a single elongated syllable, which makes it sound like 'TUU-TOO' or blends. Practice by isolating each syllable, then link them with a gentle, even transition. - To fix, train with lip rounding consistency and tongue height; keep your tongue at the back and high, close to the palate, and avoid lowering the jaw too early. - Breath control matters: take a light inhalation before the first syllable and steady exhale across both to sustain even energy. (Overall 400-600 words)
"The dancer twirled in her white tutu during the solo."
"Her sister wore a pink tutu to the recital."
"The tutu’s tulle layers rustled as she lifted her arms."
Pronounce as two identical syllables: tu-too, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈtuːtuː. Start with a long 'oo' vowel like in 'food,' then glide to the same sound in the second syllable. Visualize lips rounded, tongue high and back, with minimal mouth movement between syllables. You’ll hear a clear, even rhythm: TOO-too.
Common errors include shortening the second syllable (pronouncing it like ‘tuh-too’ with a reduced vowel) and starting with a shorter vowel (pronouncing it as ‘tu-too’ with a lax vowel). To correct, ensure both syllables have a full /uː/ and place primary stress on the first syllable. Maintain even duration between syllables and avoid trailing off the second vowel. Practice with slow, exaggerated repetition: /ˈtuːtuː/.
In US/UK/AU, the pronunciation is generally /ˈtuːtuː/ with two clear /uː/ vowels. Minor rhotic influence may alter vowel height slightly in connected speech; non-rhotic accents can preserve vowel clarity without linking r sounds. Australian English often retains a crisp, lengthened /uː/ similar to US/UK, sometimes with slight vowel centralization in rapid speech. Overall, all share the double long-Vú pattern, with minimal variation in vowel height.
The difficulty lies in maintaining equal, long /uː/ vowels across both syllables while keeping primary stress on the first syllable. Beginners often reduce the second vowel or compress it into a quicker, lighter sound. Audio clarity matters—avoid a diphthong in either syllable and resist monotone repetition. Practice with slow tempo, emphasizing the temporal spacing between syllables to keep the rhythm even.
A key feature is the strict two-syllable, identical vowel pattern. The second syllable should mirror the first in vowel quality and duration, creating a symmetric rhythm. There’s no consonant difference between the syllables; focus on identical lip rounding and jaw height for both /uː/ sounds. This symmetry helps avoid mixing up with similarly structured words like 'to-do' or 'tutu' in another register.
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- US: Pronounce /ˈtuːtuː/ with a slightly rounded, active lip rounding; keep the first /uː/ steady without creeping toward /u/. - UK: Maintain a crisp, non-rhotic delivery; the second /uː/ should mirror the first, with slightly more fronting of the tongue for a clean vowel. - AU: Similar to US, but you might hear a mild vowel height variance; ensure both vowels stay full and rounded. - General: Keep rhotics minimal; the vowel remains pure /uː/; avoid centering vowels or gliding into a short vowel. - IPA reference: /ˈtuːtuː/. - Mouth position cues: lips rounded, jaw neutral to slightly open, tongue high back. - Prosody: even syllable length, no heavy stress on the second syllable; stay evenly paced across both syllables.
The word tutu comes from French, where tutu literally means ‘nonsense’ or ‘applied to a cap.’ In English, its meaning shifted in the 19th century to a skirt worn by dancers. The earliest use in the modern sense appears in the early 19th century ballet lexicon, associated with the short, stiffer skirts worn for stage movement. Over time, the tutu evolved into two main styles: the classical (cartwheel) tutu with a firm, horizontal skirt silhouette, and the romantic or soft tutu with more flowing fabric. The term has been adopted beyond ballet, sometimes referring to children’s dress-up skirts or stage costumes in various cultural contexts. The word’s first known appearance in English texts dates to ballet criticism and show programs from the 1830s–1840s, closely tied to the rise of classical ballet notation and stagecraft.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Tutu" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Tutu" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Tutu"
-uty sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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