How to pronounce pitfall
Say it like PIT-fawl. Pitfall has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pitfall. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIT
- fawl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pitfall pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- fawlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of pitfall
American and British speakers say pitfall in essentially the same way: /ˈpɪtfɔl/ in the US and /ˈpɪtfɔːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: PIT-fawl.
What does pitfall mean?
- A type of trap consisting of a concealed pit in the ground, into which the victim is supposed to fall and not be able to get out from.
- A potential, unsuspected, hidden problem, hazard, or danger that is easily encountered but not immediately obvious.“It's usually a simple task, but you should know the pitfalls before you attempt it yourself.”
- An antipattern.
- To trap, snare, or ensnare someone or something.
Where does pitfall come from?
First recorded use in the 14th century from pit + fall in the sense of "pit trap, pit snare", from Old English fealle (“trap, snare”), from Proto-Germanic *fallą, *fallaz (“a fall, trap”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)pōl-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying pitfall
How do you pronounce pitfall?
Say PIT-fawl. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪtfɔl/. In British English it is /ˈpɪtfɔːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pitfall?
Pitfall has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIT). Broken into parts: PIT · fawl.
Do Americans and Brits say pitfall the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɪtfɔl/ and the British form is /ˈpɪtfɔːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.