How to pronounce patter
Say it like PAT-er. Patter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAT).
- PAT
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Patter pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of patter
- 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: PAT-uh.
What does patter mean?
- A soft repeated sound, as of rain falling, or feet walking on a hard surface.“I could hear the patter of mice running about in the dark.”
- To make irregularly repeated sounds of low-to-moderate magnitude and lower-than-average pitch.“The bullets pattered into the log-cabin walls.”
- To spatter; to sprinkle.
- Glib and rapid speech, such as from an auctioneer, a stage magician, a sports commentator, or a salesperson with a slick style of selling.“sales patter”
Where does patter come from?
1610s, pat + -er (“frequentative (indicating repeated action)”), of (onomatopoeia) origin.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with patter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of patter.
Questions about saying patter
How do you pronounce patter?
Say PAT-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈpætɚ/. In British English it is /ˈpætə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in patter?
Patter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAT). Broken into parts: PAT · er.
Is patter 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 /ˈpætə/ (PAT-uh).