How to pronounce litmus
Say it like LIT-mus. Litmus has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce litmus. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIT
- mus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Litmus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- musKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of litmus
American and British speakers say litmus in essentially the same way: /ˈlɪtməs/ in the US and /ˈlɪtməs/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIT-mus.
What does litmus mean?
- A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens, that changes color when exposed to pH levels greater than or less than certain critical levels.
- A simple test of acidity in a liquid using litmus, usually in the form of litmus paper.
- A simple test of any attribute; a litmus test.
Where does litmus come from?
From Middle English litmose, lytmose, litemose, from Old Norse litmosi (“moss used for dyeing”), from lita (“to dye, stain”) + mosi (“moss”), the former from litr (“color, dye, blee”), from Proto-Germanic *wlitiz, *wlituz (“appearance, ble
Questions about saying litmus
How do you pronounce litmus?
Say LIT-mus. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪtməs/. In British English it is /ˈlɪtməs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in litmus?
Litmus has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT). Broken into parts: LIT · mus.
Do Americans and Brits say litmus the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɪtməs/ and the British form is /ˈlɪtməs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.