How to pronounce bittern
Say it like BIT-ern. Bittern has two 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 bittern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIT
- ern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bittern 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.
- ernKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bittern
- 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-un.
What does bittern mean?
- Several bird species in the Botaurinae subfamily of the heron family Ardeidae.
- The liquor remaining after halite (common salt) has been harvested from saline water (brine).
- The saline substance added to soy milk to coagulate it as a primary step in the production of tofu.
Where does bittern come from?
From Middle English bitour, botor, from Old French butor, from Gallo-Roman *butitaurus, a blend of Latin būtiō (“bittern”) and taurus (“bull, ox”).
Questions about saying bittern
How do you pronounce bittern?
Say BIT-ern. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪtərn/. In British English it is /ˈbɪtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bittern?
Bittern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIT). Broken into parts: BIT · ern.
Is bittern 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 /ˈbɪtən/ (BIT-un).