tut

Tut is an interjection used to express mild disapproval or admonition, often written as "tut-tut." The sound imitates a tongue-click or lip-smack and is considered an onomatopoeic representation of a scolding reaction. The word is found in English from at least the 17th century and remains in common use in both British and American English.

King Tut, short for Tutankhamun, was an ancient Egyptian pharaoh of the 18th dynasty who ruled during the New Kingdom, roughly around 1332–1323 BCE. Tutankhamun's name means "Living image of Amun" in the ancient Egyptian language. His tomb, designated KV62, was discovered in 1922 in the Valley of the Kings by Howard Carter, yielding a wealth of artifacts and contributing to widespread public interest in ancient Egypt.

In popular culture, the name King Tut is widely used to refer to the pharaoh himself and to the exhibition and media attention surrounding his tomb and treasures. The discovery of his tomb helped spark enduring interest in ancient Egypt and has influenced education, museums, and media coverage for decades. The word tut-tut remains a common interjection in modern English, used to convey mild criticism or dissatisfaction in everyday speech.