How to pronounce bitterness
Say it like BIT-er-nus. Bitterness 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 bitterness. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIT
- er
- nus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bitterness 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.
- nusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bitterness
- 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-nus.
What does bitterness mean?
- The quality of having a bitter taste.
- The quality of feeling bitter; acrimony, resentment; the quality of exhibiting such feelings.“the bitterness of his words”
- The quality of eliciting a bitter, humiliating or harsh feeling.“Nothing could assuage the bitterness of their defeat.”
Where does bitterness come from?
From Middle English bitternesse, biternesse, from Old English biternes (“bitterness; grief”), equivalent to bitter + -ness.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bitterness
How do you pronounce bitterness?
Say BIT-er-nus. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪtɚnəs/. In British English it is /ˈbɪtənəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bitterness?
Bitterness has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIT). Broken into parts: BIT · er · nus.
Is bitterness 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 /ˈbɪtənəs/ (BIT-uh-nus).