stammer

American  

[stam-er] / ˈstæm ər /

verb (used without object)

stammers, present (3rd person singular) stammered, past participle, past stammering present participle

1. to speak with involuntary breaks and pauses, or with spasmodic repetitions of syllables or sounds.

   Synonyms:

   falter, hesitate, pause

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verb (used with object)

stammers, present (3rd person singular) stammered, past participle, past stammering present participle

1. to say with a stammer (often followed byout ).

noun

stammers plural

1. a stammering mode of utterance.

2. a stammered utterance.

stammer British  

/ ˈstæmə /

verb

1. to speak or say (something) in a hesitant way, esp as a result of a speech disorder or through fear, stress, etc

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noun

1. a speech disorder characterized by involuntary repetitions and hesitations

Usage

What does stammer mean? 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.

Synonym Usage

Stammer, stutter mean to speak with some form of difficulty. Stammer, the general term, suggests a speech disfluency that results in broken or inarticulate sounds and sometimes in complete stoppage of speech; it may be temporary, caused by sudden excitement, confusion, embarrassment, or other emotion, or it may be persistent and require speech therapy for its correction. Stutter, the parallel term preferred in technical usage, designates a broad range of speech production disturbances that produce spasmodic interruptions of the speech rhythm, repetitions, or prolongations of sounds or syllables: The child's stutter was no mere stammer of embarrassment.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• stammerer
  noun
• stammering
  noun
• unstammering
  adjective
• stammeringly
  adverb
• unstammeringly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• stammers
  plural

Participles

• stammering
  present
• stammered
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• stammer
  simple
• stammers
  simple
• have stammered
  perfect
• has stammered
  perfect
• am stammering
  progressive
• are stammering
  progressive
• is stammering
  progressive
• have been stammering
  perfect progressive
• has been stammering
  perfect progressive

Past

• stammered
  simple
• had stammered
  perfect
• was stammering
  progressive
• were stammering
  progressive
• had been stammering
  perfect progressive

Future

• will stammer
  simple
• will have stammered
  perfect
• will be stammering
  progressive
• will have been stammering
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of stammer

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb stammeren, Old English stamerian (cognate with German stammern ), equivalent to stam “stammering” + -erian -er ⁶; akin to Old Norse stamma “to stammer,” Gothic stams “stammering”

Explanation

To stammer — or to have a stammer — is to speak haltingly and to have trouble getting the words out. A stammer is also called a "stutter." Stammering (or stuttering) has a couple of related meanings. A stammer is a serious problem for some people who have great difficulty speaking. They have trouble getting the words out, and their language does not flow. They might get stuck repeating one sound over and over again. This is a difficult problem to overcome. However, we all stammer sometimes, often because we're confused, scared, tired, or unsure of what to say.

Example Sentences

Hansen would then make a dramatic entrance and interrogate the men, who would often stammer and bumble through the encounter before leaving.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Now, Gellar has made a more ceremonious return, albeit with a frustrating stop-and-start stammer.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

BBC Traitors star Jessie Stride says helping to raise awareness for those with a stammer "means more than any prize money".

From BBC • Jan. 19, 2026

It affects 8% of children and at least 1% of adults, according to stammer charity STAMMA, with some people not declaring it or realising they have one.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Before I can stammer apologies, she continues, voice pitched low.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• sputter
• wobble