Coated cutting tool

In an alumina coated cemented carbide body, the improvement wherein said coating consists essentially of a first layer adjacent to the substrate comprising MetC.sub.x N.sub.1-x (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) followed by a second layer of MetC.sub.x O.sub.y N.sub.z, where 0.7.ltoreq.x+y+z.ltoreq.1.3 and 0.2<y<0.8 which is further followed by a third layer of MetC.sub.x N.sub.1-x (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) where Met is selected from the group of Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb and Ta and where the thickness of the first layer MetC.sub.x N.sub.1-x (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) is 0.5-5 .mu.m and an outer layer of alumina.