How to pronounce butter
Say it like BUHT-er. Butter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce butter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHT
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Butter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of butter
- 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: BUHT-uh.
What does butter mean?
- an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use
- a fighter who strikes the opponent with his head
- spread butter on“butter bread”
Where does butter come from?
Cognate with Dutch boter and German Butter.
Words that rhyme with butter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of butter.
Questions about saying butter
How do you pronounce butter?
Say BUHT-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈbʌtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in butter?
Butter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT). Broken into parts: BUHT · er.
Is butter 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 /ˈbʌtə/ (BUHT-uh).