Stammering
/ˈstæm.ər.ɪŋ/noun
Speaking with involuntary pauses, repetitions, or difficulty in forming words.
Did you know?The word is tied to an ancient Germanic idea of stumbling or being made to falter, which is why many languages treat speech trouble as a kind of verbal trip or break.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*stam-
“to stumble, halt, or be blocked”
Old English
OE
stamorian
“to stammer, speak with difficulty”
Middle English
ME
stammeren
“to speak with repeated breaks or hesitations”
16th Century
English
stammering
“the act or condition of speaking with involuntary repetitions or hesitations”
Modern English
English
stammering
“speech marked by involuntary pauses, repetitions, or difficulty”