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# stammer

verb (stammer, stammers, stammered, stammering); noun (a stammer)

«stammer» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To stammer means to speak with pauses and repeated sounds, because you are nervous or because of a speech condition («I-I-I don't know»). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#m1)
2. A stammer is a speech condition that makes a person repeat or stretch sounds or get stuck on words; in the USA it is often called a stutter. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#m2)

### In the lessons

In everyday life and PSHE pupils learn that many people have a stammer, that it is not caused by being nervous or less clever, and that the kind thing is to wait patiently, not finish their words or laugh. In stories a character stammers when shocked, scared or embarrassed. Phrases: «stammer out», «have a stammer», «stammer an apology».

### Examples

- «S-sorry,» he stammered. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x1)
- She stammered when the head teacher asked her a question. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x2)
- My friend has a stammer, so I give him time to finish. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x3)
- Never laugh at someone who stammers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x4)
- He stammered out his answer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x5)
- Some famous actors and leaders had a stammer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x6)
- Speech therapy can help people with a stammer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x7)
- Nervous, Tom stammered his lines in the play. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x8)
- They weren’t here a minute ago,” he stammered. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/#x9)

### Note

Regular verb, double m: «stammered». «Stammer» (UK) and «stutter» (US) mean the same. Do not interrupt or finish the words for a person who stammers.

## In Jewish tradition

In Isaiah it means speaking in a strange foreign tongue that Israel cannot follow, a sign of invaders.

**Interpretation.** Tradition reads it as a warning that if Israel will not listen to God's clear words from the prophets, it will hear foreign conquerors' language instead.

### Examples

- For with stammering lips and with a strange tongue shall it be spoken to this people; (Prophets ISA.28.11, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stammer/#x1)
- Thou shalt not see the fierce people; a people of a deep speech that thou canst not perceive, of a stammering tongue that thou canst not understand. (Prophets ISA.33.19, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stammer/#x2)

### Note

Regular verb, double m: «stammered». «Stammer» (UK) and «stutter» (US) mean the same. Do not interrupt or finish the words for a person who stammers.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «stammer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/stammer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«stammer» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/stammer.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «stammer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/S/stammer/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«stammer» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/stammer.html) on Mova free.