stammer

/ˈstæmər/

/ˈstæmə/

Other forms: stammered; stammering; stammers

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.

Definitions of stammer

1. verb

   speak haltingly
   synonyms: bumble, falter, stutter

   type of:

   mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   express in speech
2. noun

   a speech disorder involving hesitations and involuntary repetitions of certain sounds
   synonyms: stutter

   type of:

   defect of speech, speech defect, speech disorder

   a disorder of oral speech