How to pronounce letter
Say it like LET-er. Letter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce letter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LET
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Letter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of letter
- 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: LET-uh.
What does letter mean?
- a written message addressed to a person or organization“mailed an indignant letter to the editor”
- the conventional characters of the alphabet used to represent speech“his grandmother taught him his letters”
- owner who lets another person use something (housing usually) for hire
- win an athletic letter
- set down or print with letters
- mark letters on or mark with letters
Where does letter come from?
From Middle English letter, lettre, from Old French letre, from Latin littera (“letter of the alphabet"; in plural, "epistle”).
Words that rhyme with letter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of letter.
Questions about saying letter
How do you pronounce letter?
Say LET-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈlɛtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in letter?
Letter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LET). Broken into parts: LET · er.
Is letter 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 /ˈlɛtə/ (LET-uh).