How to pronounce butterfly
Say it like BUHT-er-fly. Butterfly has three 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 butterfly. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHT
- er
- fly
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Butterfly 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.
- flyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of butterfly
- 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-fly.
What does butterfly mean?
- diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
- a swimming stroke in which the arms are thrown forward together out of the water while the feet kick up and down
- flutter like a butterfly
- cut and spread open, as in preparation for cooking“butterflied shrimp”
Where does butterfly come from?
Contrary to popularized belief, the form "butterfly" was not derived from an earlier flutterby.
Questions about saying butterfly
How do you pronounce butterfly?
Say BUHT-er-fly. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌtɚˌflaɪ/. In British English it is /ˈbʌtəˌflaɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in butterfly?
Butterfly has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHT). Broken into parts: BUHT · er · fly.
Is butterfly 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 /ˈbʌtəˌflaɪ/ (BUHT-uh-fly).