3 syllables: Chit, ter, lings. Stress on Chit.
CHIT-ur-lingz
/ˈtʃɪtɚlɪŋz/
Chitterlings is pronounced CHIT-ur-lingz (/ˈtʃɪtɚlɪŋz/). It has three syllables (Chit-ter-lings), with the stress on "Chit". Chitterlings is a plural noun referring to the cleaned, boiled, or fried small intestines of pigs, typically prepared as a traditional dish. The term is chiefly encountered in Southern U.S. culinary contexts or as historical/ethnographic references to soul food. Usage is colloquial and regionally specific, and the word carries cultural-food relevance more than broad everyday vocabulary.
nounChitterlings is a plural noun referring to the cleaned, boiled, or fried small intestines of pigs, typically prepared as a traditional dish. The term is chiefly encountered in Southern U.S. culinary contexts or as historical/ethnographic references to soul food. Usage is colloquial and regionally specific, and the word carries cultural-food relevance more than broad everyday vocabulary.
- You may drop or soften the middle vowel, pronouncing it as chit-lings. Remedy: hold a short schwa in the second syllable briefly before the final -lings to preserve the rhythm. - The final -lings may be truncated to -ling or the z to like -lings with unclear voicing. Remedy: finish with a crisp /z/ and ensure nasal-ling cluster stays intact. - Misplacing stress, giving the word secondary stress on the second syllable. Remedy: keep primary stress on the first syllable and release into the middle syllable smoothly. - Blending the first two syllables too quickly, resulting in a slurred CHI- and -tər. Remedy: practice with slow repetition, then step up tempo while maintaining segment integrity.
How to Pronounce Chitterlings
"She served chitterlings with gravy and cornbread at the family reunion."
"Some communities boil chitterlings for hours to achieve tenderness before frying."
"Grandma’s recipe for chitterlings is a cherished family tradition."
Pronounce it as CHIT-ər-lIngz, with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US /ˈtʃɪtərˌlɪŋz/, UK /ˈtɪtəlɪŋz/ (less common in that exact form), AU /ˈtɪtələŋz/ depending on speaker. Start with a crisp CH sound, then a short i as in kit, followed by a schwa in the second syllable and a final lingz cluster. Keep the final z sound clear. Audio reference: search for “chitterlings pronunciation” on Forvo or Pronounce to hear native speakers.”,
Two common errors: (1) Skipping the second syllable vowel, delivering it as chip- or chit-lings, which flattens the word. (2) Misplacing the r or reducing it too aggressively in the middle syllable, producing chit-erlings or chit-lings. Correction: clearly voice the second syllable with a relaxed schwa (or a light ‘er’), and maintain final -lings with a soft z. Practice by isolating CHIT-ER-LINGZ and then blend smoothly. Use slow repetition and record yourself for comparison.
In US English, the word typically emphasizes the first syllable: /ˈtʃɪtərˌlɪŋz/. In many UK speech patterns, the middle vowel may be shorter or reduced, yielding /ˈtɪtəlnz/ or /ˈtɪtəlɪŋz/, with less rhoticity and a lighter r. Australian speakers may approach /ˈtɪtəˌləŋz/ with more vowel reduction and non-rhotic tendencies. Focus on preserving the CH- onset and the final -lings cluster, while allowing the middle vowel to vary by accent. Listening to native samples helps map these subtle shifts.
The word packs a consonant cluster at the end and an unstressed middle syllable that often contracts in fast speech. The initial CH blends with a short I vowel, and the mid syllable often reduces toward a schwa, which many speakers flatten incorrectly. Additionally, the final -lings suffix can be misproduced as -ling or -lings without the final z. Mastery involves accurate placement of primary stress on the first syllable, careful middle-vowel treatment, and clear final sibilant. IPA guidance helps map the subtleties across accents.
No letters are strictly silent in standard pronunciation. The word is phonemically active from CH to the final -lings. The challenge is not silent letters but vowel reductions and maintaining a crisp initial consonant and final z. Ensure the CH is aspirated, the middle vowel isn’t overextended, and the final /z/ is voiced and audible. Hearing native samples will help you perceive the full sonority of the word.
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- US: Emphasize the first syllable with a tighter jaw for CH, then a relaxed middle with a muted /ər/; final /lɪŋz/ should be clear but not overly stressed. - UK: The middle vowel can be shorter; keep it compact: /ˈtɪtəlɪŋz/ with a lighter -r if non-rhotic; ensure the final z is audible. - AU: Slightly broader vowel in the first syllable; maintain the t-diphthong quality and a soft but present final /z/; non-rhotic tendency may reduce /r/ in middle. - IPA cues: CH = /tʃ/; middle = /ɪ/ or /ɪə/; final = /lɪŋz/ or /ləŋz/ depending on speaker. Listen for subtle vowel length and r-coloring across contexts.
Chitterlings derives from Middle English chitterlen, which itself is from Old English citterlin or citterling, diminutive forms possibly related to the verb chit- meaning to 'chatter' in reference to the sound of frying or boiling. The term likely originated in rural English-speaking communities that used the pig’s small intestines as a traditional food, with later adoption and proliferation in American Southern dialects through African American culinary influence and migrant foodways. The modern spelling chitterlings appears in 19th–20th century dictionaries, with first known attestations in American cookbooks describing regional delicacies. The word stabilized in the woke-modern lexicon as a specific preparation rather than a generic offal term, retaining strong regional associations with Southern soul food and immigrant cooking traditions. Today, it is mainly encountered in historical accounts, cookbooks, and regional menus, maintaining its niche culinary significance while often triggering strong cultural resonance for some speakers. The pronunciation has remained stable across dialects, though some speakers may soften or elide syllables in rapid speech, especially in casual contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "Chitterlings"
-ngs sounds
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