Stutter: meaning, definitions and examples

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stutter

 

[ หˆstสŒtษ™r ]

Verb / Noun
Context #1 | Verb

speaking difficulty

To speak with involuntary pauses or repetitions.

Synonyms

falter, hesitate, stammer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
stutter

Generally used when someone has difficulty speaking smoothly, often repeating sounds or syllables. It often refers to a speech disorder.

  • He has a stutter and sometimes takes a while to complete his sentences.
  • When she gets nervous, she starts to stutter.
stammer

Similar to 'stutter,' often used to describe a temporary difficulty in speaking clearly, especially due to nervousness. It can have a slightly negative connotation when indicating nervousness or embarrassment.

  • He began to stammer when the teacher asked him a question.
  • She stammered out an apology.
hesitate

Applied when someone pauses before saying or doing something, usually due to uncertainty or nervousness.

  • He didnโ€™t hesitate for a moment when asked to help.
  • She hesitated before jumping into the water.
falter

Used when someone hesitates or shows uncertainty, often due to lack of confidence or strength. It can also mean to lose strength or momentum.

  • Her voice began to falter as she explained her situation.
  • Their courage did not falter even in the face of danger.

Examples of usage

  • He tends to stutter when he's nervous.
  • She stutters when she's excited.
  • The child began to stutter after the traumatic experience.
  • The comedian deliberately stutters to make the audience laugh.
  • I noticed he started to stutter during the presentation.
Context #2 | Noun

speech disorder

A speech disorder characterized by disruptions in the flow of speech.

Synonyms

disfluency, speech impediment, stammer.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
stutter

Commonly used to describe a specific speech disorder where the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds, syllables, words, or phrases, as well as involuntary silent pauses or blocks.

  • He has a noticeable stutter when he speaks.
  • Despite his stutter, he gave a compelling presentation.
stammer

Primarily used in British English to describe the same speech disorder that 'stutter' describes in American English. It also refers to involuntary hesitations and repetitions during speech.

  • He tends to stammer when he's nervous.
  • Her stammer made it hard for her to complete sentences fluently.
speech impediment

A more formal and general term that refers to any type of communication disorder, including stuttering, lisping, and other forms of speech difficulties. It often has a more clinical connotation.

  • She overcame her speech impediment with the help of therapy.
  • A speech impediment can affect a person's confidence.
disfluency

A broader, more technical term used to describe any kind of interruption in the smooth flow of speech. It can include hesitations, repetitions, and self-corrections.

  • Speech disfluencies can occur in situations of high stress.
  • Many people experience disfluency when speaking in a non-native language.

Examples of usage

  • His stutter became more noticeable as he grew older.
  • People with a stutter often face challenges in public speaking.
  • The therapist worked with the child to reduce his stutter.
  • She overcame her stutter through speech therapy.

Translations

Translations of the word "stutter" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น gaguejar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคนเค•เคฒเคพเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช stottern

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ gagap

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะทะฐั—ะบะฐั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ jฤ…kaฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใฉใ‚‚ใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท bรฉgayer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ tartamudear

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท kekelemek

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ง์„ ๋”๋“ฌ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชู„ุนุซู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ koktat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ koktaลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅฃๅƒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ jecljati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ stama

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะบะตะบะตัˆั‚ะตะฝัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ”แƒญแƒ•แƒ˜แƒแƒœแƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kษ™kษ™lษ™mษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ tartamudear

Etymology

The word 'stutter' originated from Middle English 'stuteren', which is related to Dutch 'stotteren' and German 'stottern'. The term has been used since the 16th century to describe the speech disorder characterized by involuntary pauses and repetitions. Throughout history, people with a stutter have faced misconceptions and discrimination, but efforts have been made to raise awareness and provide support for individuals with this speech disorder.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,770, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.