How to pronounce lickspittle
Say it like LIK-spitl. Lickspittle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lickspittle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIK
- spitl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lickspittle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- spitlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of lickspittle
American and British speakers say lickspittle in essentially the same way: /ˈlɪkspɪtl/ in the US and /ˈlɪkspɪtl/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIK-spitl.
What does lickspittle mean?
- A fawning toady; a base sycophant.
- The practice of giving empty flattery for personal gain.
- To play the toady; take the role of a lickspittle to please (someone).
Where does lickspittle come from?
A compounding: lick (“pass one’s tongue over”) + spittle (“saliva”); the verb may derive by back-formation from the nominal derivation lickspittling (see below).
Questions about saying lickspittle
How do you pronounce lickspittle?
Say LIK-spitl. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪkspɪtl/. In British English it is /ˈlɪkspɪtl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lickspittle?
Lickspittle has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIK). Broken into parts: LIK · spitl.
Do Americans and Brits say lickspittle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɪkspɪtl/ and the British form is /ˈlɪkspɪtl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.