How to pronounce spit
Say it like SPIT. Spit is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- SPIT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Spit pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SPITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of spit
American and British speakers say spit in essentially the same way: /spɪt/ in the US and /spɪt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SPIT.
What does spit mean?
- A thin metal or wooden rod on which meat is skewered for cooking, often over a fire.
- A generally low, narrow, pointed, usually sandy peninsula or bar.
- To impale on a spit; to pierce with a sharp object.“to spit a loin of veal”
- To use a spit to cook; to attend to food that is cooking on a spit.“She’s spitting the roast in the kitchen.”
- To evacuate (saliva or another substance) from the mouth, etc.
- To emit or expel in a manner similar to evacuating saliva from the mouth.“a hot pan spitting droplets of fat”
- To rain or snow slightly.
Where does spit come from?
The verb is derived from the noun, or from Middle English spiten (“to put on a spit; to impale”), from spit, spite: see above.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- broach
- expectorate
- expectoration
- spittle
- slam
- ptyalize
- ptyalise
- spew
Words that rhyme with spit
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of spit.
Questions about saying spit
How do you pronounce spit?
Say SPIT. The American pronunciation is /spɪt/. In British English it is /spɪt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in spit?
Spit is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SPIT.
Do Americans and Brits say spit the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /spɪt/ and the British form is /spɪt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.