# Correct Pronunciation of "Qatar"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-qatar/157194>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 24, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-qatar/157194 "2003-02-24T17:43:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![joemill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a9a28c/32.png) [@joemill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemill)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-qatar/157194/1 "2003-02-24T17:43:21Z")

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What is the correct pronunciation of Qatar. I’ve been hearing it pronounced “CUT-ter” on the news channels. I was taught in high school that it was pronounced “KAY-tar”. Which is correct?

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**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-qatar/157194/2 "2003-02-24T17:47:02Z")

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See if this helps:

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=136761](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=136761)

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**Author:** ![RiverRunner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/977dab/32.png) [@RiverRunner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RiverRunner)\
**Post date:** [February 24, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/correct-pronunciation-of-qatar/157194/3 "2003-02-24T18:17:59Z")

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wow. I had always pronounced it more or less as “catarrh.” That’s what I get for not looking it up.

RR