how to pronounce kowtow

/ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of kowtow is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

kowtow is pronounced in two syllables

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1.

2. example pitch curve for pronunciation of kowtow

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video examples of kowtow pronunciation

An example use of kowtow in a speech by a native speaker of british english:

“… rather than kowtow to her own breast …”

meanings of kowtow

verb:

To kneel and bow low enough to touch one's forehead to the ground.
To grovel, act in a very submissive manner.
To bow very deeply.

noun:

The act of kowtowing.

kowtow frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word kowtow occurs in english on average 0.2 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.