stammer
/ˈstæmə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstæmər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsta-mər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈstæm.ər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈstæm.ɚ/ (ame, ipa)
stammer — verb
- stammerpresent simple I / you / we / they
- stammershe / she / it
- stammeredpast simple
- stammering-ing form
1. to speak with difficulty by involuntarily repeating sounds or syllables, or by p
to speak with difficulty by involuntarily repeating sounds or syllables, or by pausing mid-word, either because of a long-term speech condition or because of a sudden strong feeling such as fear, embarrassment, or nervousness.
When the teacher called on Yuki in class, she stammered and could not finish her answer.
intransitive use: stammer + no object
Theo stammered an apology after accidentally knocking over a stack of wine glasses.
transitive use: stammer + noun phrase
"I... I did not mean to break it," Diego stammered, his face bright red.
Aisha's hands shook as she stammered out her phone number to the police officer.
The young man tried to ask for directions but stammered so badly that no one understood him.
- stutter
nearly identical in meaning; 'stutter' is more common in medical contexts and American English, while 'stammer' is more common in everyday British English
- falter
suggests hesitating or losing confidence mid-speech, without the sound-repetition element
- hem and haw
informal; means to pause and avoid giving a direct answer, not necessarily with sound repetition
- speak fluently
to talk smoothly without pauses or repetition
文法句型
stammer + (that-clause)
stammer + (out) + noun phrase
stammer + quoted speech
用法筆記
Frequently used with direct speech before or after a stammered quotation. The phrasal verb 'stammer out' means to say something with great difficulty. Distinguish from noun/1 (a chronic speech condition) and noun/2 (a one-time nervous reaction): the verb can refer to either situation.
常見錯誤
stammer — noun
- stammersingular
- stammersplural
1. a long-term speech condition in which a person involuntarily repeats sounds, str
a long-term speech condition in which a person involuntarily repeats sounds, stretches out syllables, or gets stuck on words, making it hard to speak smoothly.
Sofia attended speech therapy for three years to help manage her stammer.
possessive + stammer
A child with a stammer may feel frustrated when classmates laugh at their speech.
indefinite article: a stammer
His stammer became much less noticeable after months of practice with breathing techniques.
The support group at the hospital welcomed anyone who lived with a stammer.
Teachers are trained to help students who have a stammer feel more confident in class.
- stutter
the clinical term for the same condition, more common in American English
- speech impediment
broader term covering any difficulty with speech, not just stammering
- fluency
the ability to speak smoothly without interruption
文法句型
have + a + stammer
suffer from + a + stammer
possessive + stammer
用法筆記
Always describes a lasting condition, not a one-time event. For a momentary stammer from nerves, use noun/2. 'Stammer' and 'stutter' are largely interchangeable for this sense, though 'stutter' is the preferred clinical term in speech-language pathology.
常見錯誤
2. a brief difficulty in speaking smoothly that happens in a particular moment beca
a brief difficulty in speaking smoothly that happens in a particular moment because the speaker is scared, embarrassed, or extremely anxious, rather than from a long-term speech condition.
Mei heard a slight stammer in her own voice as she asked for a day off work.
pattern: a stammer in [possessive] voice
There was a noticeable stammer in the witness's reply when the lawyer asked about the missing files.
Rafael tried to hide the stammer that came from his nerves during the job interview.
The bride spoke her wedding vows with no stammer at all, despite her nerves.
Hassan's answer came out with a stammer, and he immediately looked down at the floor.
- hesitation
a pause in speaking, but without the sound-repetition that characterises a stammer
- falter
suggests the voice loses strength or sureness for a moment
- flow
smooth, uninterrupted speech
文法句型
a + stammer + in + possessive + voice
with + a + stammer + of + emotion
no + stammer
用法筆記
Describes a one-time reaction to a stressful situation, not a chronic condition. If the person regularly stammers across many situations, use noun/1 instead. The determiner is nearly always 'a' or 'no' — 'the stammer' typically refers to noun/1.