How to pronounce “courthouse”
Courthouse is pronounced /ˈkɔːrtˌhaʊs/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — kɔːrt. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting kɔːrt in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oō — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “courthouse”
✗ Often said: /ˈkaʊrθɑːjuːs/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈkɔːrtˌhaʊs/
Why the two come apart: the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “courthouse” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“courthouse” sound by sound
“courthouse” is built out of 7 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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kRaise the back of the tongue to touch the soft palate, seal the air, then release it with a puff.
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ɔːTongue low and back like /ɑː/, but round the lips and push them forward slightly; the sound is long and rounded.
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rCurl the tongue tip back (or bunch the tongue body up) without touching anything, round the lips slightly, and voice — the tongue must never tap the roof of the mouth.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
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hSimply breathe out through an open, relaxed mouth already shaped for the following vowel — there is no tongue or lip contact at all.
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aʊStart with the mouth wide open at /a/ and glide back and up toward /ʊ/, rounding the lips as the jaw closes.
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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
Silent letters in “courthouse”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Questions people ask about “courthouse”
- How do you pronounce “courthouse”?
- “courthouse” is pronounced /ˈkɔːrtˌhaʊs/, with the stress on the first syllable (kɔːrt). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “courthouse”?
- “courthouse” has 2 syllables: kɔːrt · haʊs. The stress pattern is Oō.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “courthouse”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈkaʊrθɑːjuːs/, but it is actually /ˈkɔːrtˌhaʊs/, because the silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) is not pronounced, even though the spelling begs you to say it.
- Does “courthouse” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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