How to pronounce kilter
Say it like KIL-ter. Kilter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce kilter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KIL
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Kilter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of kilter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: KIL-tuh.
What does kilter mean?
- Chiefly in out of kilter: (good) condition, form, or order; fettle.“not in kilter”
- A hand of playing cards which is useless.
Where does kilter come from?
A variant of dialectal kelter (“good condition, order”), of unknown origin; possibly related to kilt (“to gather up (skirts) around the body”) (cognate with Danish kilte (“to tuck”)), or Scots kilt (“proper way of doing something, knack”) (
Words that rhyme with kilter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of kilter.
Questions about saying kilter
How do you pronounce kilter?
Say KIL-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɪltɚ/. In British English it is /ˈkɪltə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in kilter?
Kilter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KIL). Broken into parts: KIL · ter.
Is kilter 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 /ˈkɪltə/ (KIL-tuh).