How to pronounce litotes
Say it like ly-TOH-teez. Litotes has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce litotes. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ly
- TOH
- teez
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Litotes pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- lyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- TOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- teezKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of litotes
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ly-TOH-teez.
What does litotes mean?
- A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite.
- The negation of a negative quality to assert a positive.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying litotes
How do you pronounce litotes?
Say ly-TOH-teez. The American pronunciation is /laɪˈtoʊtiz/. In British English it is /laɪˈtəʊtiːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in litotes?
Litotes has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH). Broken into parts: ly · TOH · teez.
Is litotes pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /laɪˈtəʊtiːz/ (ly-TOH-teez).