How to pronounce loiter
Say it like LOY-ter. Loiter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce loiter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LOY
- ter
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Loiter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of loiter
- 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: LOY-tuh.
What does loiter mean?
- To stand about without any aim or purpose; to stand about idly.“For some reason, they discourage loitering outside the store, but encourage it inside.”
- To remain at a certain place instead of moving on.
- Of an aircraft, to remain in the air near a target.
- A standing or strolling about without any aim or purpose.
Where does loiter come from?
From Middle English loitren, from Middle Dutch loteren ("to shake, wag, wobble"; > modern Dutch leuteren (“to dawdle, ramble”)), ultimately connected with a frequentative form of Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bend, stoop, cower, shrink from, decline”), see lout.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with loiter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of loiter.
Questions about saying loiter
How do you pronounce loiter?
Say LOY-ter. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɔɪtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈlɔɪtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in loiter?
Loiter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOY). Broken into parts: LOY · ter.
Is loiter 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 /ˈlɔɪtə/ (LOY-tuh).