How to pronounce bittersweet
Say it like BIT-er-sweet. Bittersweet 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 bittersweet. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIT
- er
- sweet
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bittersweet 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.
- sweetGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of bittersweet
- 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-sweet.
What does bittersweet mean?
- Both bitter and sweet.“bittersweet chocolate”
- Expressing contrasting emotions of pain and pleasure.“The break-up was very bittersweet; they both hurt to end it, but were glad it was over.”
- Of bittersweet color (see the noun section, below).
- Bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara).
- Bittersweetness.
- A vine, of the genus Celastrus, having small orange fruit that open to reveal red seeds.
Where does bittersweet come from?
From Middle English bitterswete, biterswete, equivalent to bitter + sweet.
Questions about saying bittersweet
How do you pronounce bittersweet?
Say BIT-er-sweet. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪtɚˌswit/. In British English it is /ˈbɪtəˌswiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bittersweet?
Bittersweet has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIT). Broken into parts: BIT · er · sweet.
Is bittersweet 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 /ˈbɪtəˌswiːt/ (BIT-uh-sweet).