lisp

Meaning

Noun

The act or a habit of lisping.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To pronounce the consonant ‘s’ imperfectly; to give ‘s’ and ‘z’ the sounds of ‘th’ (/θ/, /ð/). This is a speech impediment common among children.
2. (intransitive) To speak with imperfect articulation; to mispronounce, such as a child learning to talk.
3. (archaic, intransitive) To speak hesitatingly and with a low voice, as if afraid.
4. (archaic, intransitive) to express by the use of simple, childlike language.
5. (archaic, intransitive) To speak with reserve or concealment; to utter timidly or confidentially.

Synonyms

stammer

stutter

stuttering

speech defect

mispronounce

mumble

prattle

slur

splutter

stammering

tongue-tied

sibilate

clip one’s words

speak indistinctly

speak slowly

babble

sigmatism

falter

haw

lisping

Translations

zézayer

zozoter

lispeln

cecear

zézaiement

lispelen

Lispeln

τραυλίζω

mit der Zunge anstoßen

ψευδίζω

ceceo

τραύλισμα

cecear

ψελλίζω

Pronounced as (IPA)

/lɪsp/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: lispen

Inherited from Old English: *wlispian

Cognate with Middle Low German: wlispen

Cognate with Dutch: lispen

Cognate with German: lispeln

Cognate with Danish: læspe

Cognate with Swedish: läspa

In summary

From Middle English lispen, lipsen, wlispen, from Old English *wlispian (attested in āwlyspian (“to lisp”)), from Old English wlisp, wlips (“stammering, lisping”, adjective), from Proto-Germanic *wlispaz (“lisping”), from Proto-Indo-European *wlis-, *wleys- (“rod”), from *wel- (“to turn, roll”). Cognate with Middle Low German wlispen (“to lisp”), Dutch lispen (“to lisp”), German lispeln (“to lisp”), Danish læspe (“to lisp”), Swedish läspa (“to lisp”).