How to pronounce witless
Say it like WIT-lus. Witless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce witless. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WIT
- lus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Witless pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WITSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- lusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of witless
American and British speakers say witless in essentially the same way: /ˈwɪtləs/ in the US and /ˈwɪtləs/ in the UK.
British respelling: WIT-lus.
What does witless mean?
- Lacking wit or understanding; foolish.
- Indiscreet; not using clear and sound judgment.
- Mindless, lacking conscious thought or the capacity for it.
Where does witless come from?
From Middle English witles, from Old English witlēas (“senseless; witless”), from Proto-Germanic *witjalausaz (“witless”), equivalent to wit + -less.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- shitless
Questions about saying witless
How do you pronounce witless?
Say WIT-lus. The American pronunciation is /ˈwɪtləs/. In British English it is /ˈwɪtləs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in witless?
Witless has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WIT). Broken into parts: WIT · lus.
Do Americans and Brits say witless the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwɪtləs/ and the British form is /ˈwɪtləs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.