2 syllables: jit, ter. Stress on jit.
JIT-ur
/ˈdʒɪtɚ/
jitter is pronounced JIT-ur (/ˈdʒɪtɚ/). It has two syllables (jit-ter), with the stress on "jit". Jitter refers to small, rapid movements or fluctuations, especially of a mechanical or electronic nature, or to nervous, tremulous movements in humans. In tech contexts it denotes irregular timing of signal pulses, while in everyday speech it can describe a quick, repeated tremor. The term implies unstable, oscillating motion or timing, often measurable and undesirable in precision systems.
Jitter refers to small, rapid movements or fluctuations, especially of a mechanical or electronic nature, or to nervous, tremulous movements in humans. In tech contexts it denotes irregular timing of signal pulses, while in everyday speech it can describe a quick, repeated tremor. The term implies unstable, oscillating motion or timing, often measurable and undesirable in precision systems.
- You often flatten the second syllable or misplace stress when the word is used in phrases: say jitter in isolation with strong first-syllable stress, but in sentences like “jitter in the data,” you may unconsciously de-emphasize the first syllable. - The /t/ can be swallowed or flapped in rapid connected speech, turning jitter into /ˈdʒɪɾər/; aim for a crisp release. - Final /ər/ can blur into a schwa; practice a light, relaxed mouthing to maintain a clear ending. - If you’re non-rhotic, you might omit the /r/; in connected speech, ensure some rhotic carryover or vowel length to keep the ending audible. - Assure that the /dʒ/ is fully voiced and avoids a mispronounced /ʃ/ or /tʃ/ blend. Practice: isolate each segment, then connect smoothly in phrases.
"The camera shake caused by wind produced noticeable jitter in the footage."
"After the earthquake, the building’s sensors logged jitter in the measurements."
"In networking, packet jitter can degrade real-time performance for audio and video calls."
Pronounce as /ˈdʒɪtər/ in General American and /ˈdʒɪtə/ in many UK and AU contexts. The stress falls on the first syllable. Begin with the J sound /dʒ/ as in judge, followed by a short /ɪ/ vowel, then a light /t/ and a schwa /ə/ or the final /ər/ in American variants. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tongue high-front for /ɪ/, tip of tongue briefly touches the alveolar ridge for /t/, then a relaxed vowel. You’ll likely hear a slight vowel reduction in rapid speech: /ˈdʒɪtə/.
Common mistakes include: 1) Deleting the /t/ or replacing it with a flap, yielding /ˈdʒɪɾər/ or /ˈdʒɪɾə/; 2) Lengthening the second syllable or adding an extra syllable, as in /ˈdʒɪtərr/; 3) Overarticulating the final /r/ in non-rhotic accents. Correction: keep final /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent, sharply release the /t/ with a brief tap or light stop, and maintain a clear /ɪ/ nucleus in the first syllable.
In US English, /ˈdʒɪtər/ with rhotic /ɹ/ at the end; the final syllable is unstressed and schwa-like. UK English often reduces to /ˈdʒɪtə/ or /ˈdʒɪtə/ with a weaker or non-rhotic ending depending on the speaker. Australian English tends toward /ˈdʒɪtə/ but can maintain a firmer /ɹ/ in linked speech; overall, all share the /dʒ/ onset but differ in vowel quality and rhoticity. The main variations are vowel reduction and postvocalic /r/ presence.
Two main challenges: the quick, precise alveolar stop /t/ release after /dʒ/ and the final schwa or /ər/ that can blur in rapid speech. Some speakers insert an extra vowel or aspirate too much, making it sound like /ˈdʒɪdər/ or /ˈdʒɪtərɪ/. Achieve clarity by securing a crisp alveolar stop, releasing it with minimal aspiration, and finishing with a relaxed labial-oral posture for the schwa or retroflex /ɹ/ as appropriate.
The unique aspect is balancing the rapid onset /dʒ/ with a clean, short /t/ release before a neutral or reduced final vowel; in many accents, speakers either reduce or merge the final syllable /ər/ making it sound like /ˈdʒɪtə/ in casual speech. Paying attention to the abrupt stop, avoiding linking consonants that blur the /t/, and ensuring the /ɪ/ remains as a compact nucleus distinguishes precise pronunciation from casual variation.
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- US: rhotic ending /ɹ/ is noticeable; keep a mild r-coloring in the final syllable and avoid dropping the /ɹ/ in connected speech. - UK: weaker or non-rhotic ending; the final can be a schwa more pronounced, depending on speaker. - AU: often a reduced final vowel, with less pronounced /ɹ/; ensure the /t/ release is crisp before the schwa. - Vowels: focus on short /ɪ/ in the first syllable; avoid turning it into a lax /iː/ or a lax /ɛ/. - Consonants: ensure a distinct /dʒ/ onset and a clean /t/ release; avoid coalescing /dʒt/ into /dʒ/ or /t/. - Rhythm: keep the word short with 2 syllables, but don’t rush the release. - IPA references: US /ˈdʒɪtər/, UK /ˈdʒɪtə/, AU /ˈdʒɪtə/.
Jitter comes from the earlier verb jittere in Middle English, meaning to tremble or shake, with possible onomatopoeic influence from the quick, jittering sound of a small object. The modern sense of irregular timing in signals emerged from technical engineering and computing contexts in the 20th century, where devices exhibited short, rapid fluctuations in frequency or timing. By the mid-20th century, engineers used jitter to describe timing deviations in communications and display systems. The term has since broadened to describe any rapid, irregular movement or variation, including human tremor or cosmetic instability in mechanical systems. First known written use in English appears in technical literature around the 1930s-1950s, with continued expansion into computing jargon as digital systems required tighter synchronization and fewer timing irregularities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "jitter" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "jitter"
-ter sounds
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