butter · batter

butter and batter share the same consonants and stress pattern — only the first vowel changes: /ʌ/ vs /æ/.

butter and batter share the same consonants and stress pattern — only the first vowel changes: /ʌ/ in butter (neutral, central “uh”) vs /æ/ in batter (bright, open “aa”).

⠿ reorder

noun — a soft dairy product made from cream — 'spread butter on toast' · 'peanut butter' · 'butter someone up' (idiom: flatter them)

mouth shape

short /ʌ/ — BUH-ter — mouth half-open, tongue central and low, lips neutral — like 'cut', 'but', 'hurry' — do not open your jaw wide

butter

/ˈbʌtər/

vowel length

short /ʌ/

plays as: “the butter tastes great”

⠿ reorder

Cake batter being whisked in a glass bowl

noun/verb — a mixture of flour, egg, and liquid used in baking or frying; OR to hit repeatedly — 'pancake batter' · 'battered fish' · 'batter down a door'

mouth shape

short /æ/ — BAA-ter — jaw drops lower than /ʌ/, lips spread slightly — like 'cat', 'hat', 'matter' — a brighter, more open sound than the neutral /ʌ/ in butter

batter

/ˈbætər/

vowel length

short /æ/

/ʌ/ vs /æ/ — jaw height is the key

butter

/ˈbʌtər/

neutral /ʌ/ — half-open jaw

cut · but · hurry · mutter

≠

batter

/ˈbætər/

bright /æ/ — jaw drops lower

cat · hat · matter · scatter

Key difference

Place your fingers on your jaw and say both words. For batter /æ/ your jaw drops noticeably lower and your lips spread wider than for butter /ʌ/, which stays relaxed and central.

Example sentences

butter:“Could you pass the butter, please?”

batter:“Mix the batter until it’s smooth.”

batter:“The fish was fried in a light batter.”

Hear it in the wild

Real speech from native speakers — the most reliable way to check a pronunciation, since automated audio can vary by device and browser.

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butter

Hear native speakers say “butter” in real sentences — news, lectures, and podcasts.

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