stammer

To stammer is to speak with involuntary breaks or pauses or involuntarily repeated words or parts of words. In text, it is often represented with hyphens, as in s-s-s-safe to represent a struggle to pronounce the s– sound.

A stammer is a way of speaking with a stammer, as in Kim spoke with a stammer, but it didn’t define him.

To stammer is also to say something with a stammer, as in Lawrence was so nervous during his presentation that he stammered out the first part of his speech.

Stutter is a synonym of stammer and is preferred in technical usage.

Example: Everytime we have to present to the board, I get so nervous that I start to stammer.

The first records of the term stammer come from before the year 1000. It comes from the Old English stamerian.

When you’re nervous, it’s natural to stammer a bit. Usually, as you calm down and speak for a few minutes, your speech will smooth out. Practicing a speech before giving it to an audience can help you feel less nervous and stammer less or not at all.

Beyond occasional stammering due to nervousness, stammering often results from a speech disorder. A person might be born with a condition or later suffer brain trauma from disease or injury, which can cause light to intrusive stammering. This type of stammering can produce a frustrated feeling over an inability to produce the proper syllable. It can be eased with speech therapy and speech exercises.

Sometimes listeners are impatient with a person who is stammering. This can make them more nervous. Patiently waiting for someone to finish their statement is the best way to support someone who is struggling to speak.

What are some other forms related to stammer?

• stammerer (noun)
• stammeringly (adverb)
• unstammering (adjective)
• unstammeringly (adverb)

What are some synonyms for stammer?

• stutter
• sputter
• wobble

What are some words that often get used in discussing stammer?

• afraid
• hesitate
• nervous
• speech

Stammering can happen occasionally, such as when you’re nervous, or regularly, as with a speech disorder.

It’s International Stammering Awareness Day. My stammer is part of me, but through constant work, doesn’t define me. 👊🏼 #ISAD2017

— Kelly Brown (@kellydrbrown) October 22, 2017

The Dodo in "Alice in Wonderland" is based on the author, Charles Dodgson, who had a stammer and would introduce himself as “Do-do-dogson.”

— UberFacts (@UberFacts) July 10, 2015

"It's up to us to tell our story in our way without stuttering, without stammering, without whispering, without apologies." Runoko Rashidi pic.twitter.com/H8cPkkqBU7

— Kentah Gwanjez (@GWANJEZ) December 3, 2021

True or False?

Only someone with a speech disorder stammers.