How to pronounce litter
Say it like LIT-er. Litter 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 litter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIT
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Litter 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of litter
- 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: LIT-uh.
What does litter mean?
- the offspring at one birth of a multiparous mammal
- rubbish carelessly dropped or left about (especially in public places)
- conveyance consisting of a chair or bed carried on two poles by bearers
- strew“Cigar butts littered the ground”
- make a place messy by strewing garbage around
- give birth to a litter of animals
Where does litter come from?
Inherited from Middle English litere, borrowed from Anglo-Norman litere, from Old French litiere (“bedding; bed of loose straw; litter”), from Late Latin lectuāria, from Latin lectus + -āria.
Words that rhyme with litter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of litter.
Questions about saying litter
How do you pronounce litter?
Say LIT-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈlɪtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in litter?
Litter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIT). Broken into parts: LIT · er.
Is litter 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 /ˈlɪtə/ (LIT-uh).