How to pronounce bitterly
Say it like BIT-er-lee. Bitterly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bitterly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIT
- er
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bitterly pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of bitterly
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BIT-uh-lee.
What does bitterly mean?
- In a bitter manner.
- Extremely.
Where does bitterly come from?
From Middle English bitterli, biterli, biterliche, from Old English biterlīċe, bitterlīċe (“bitterly”), equivalent to bitter + -ly.
Questions about saying bitterly
How do you pronounce bitterly?
Say BIT-er-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪtɚli/. In British English it is /ˈbɪtəli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bitterly?
Bitterly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIT). Broken into parts: BIT · er · lee.
Is bitterly pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɪtəli/ (BIT-uh-lee).