Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

litotes

/laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.23 in modern English

Syllables: li-to-tes
IPA: /laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/

7

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"The delicacy which prompts a later generation to reject that name is by no means necessarily a result of stricter habits, is far more often due to the flatness which comes of untiring repetition and to the greater piquancy of litotes."

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Late Latin lītotēs, from Ancient Greek λιτότης (litótēs, literally “plainness”), from λιτός (litós, “simple”).

Origin

Source language: Ancient Greek

Word Breakdown

Root: λιτότης

Regional Pronunciation

British English: /laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/

Usage

Derived Forms

litotic litotical litotically

Phrases

double negative

Frequently Paired Words

paradiastole double negative

Synonyms

antenantiosis meiosis moderatour

Antonyms

hyperbole

Questions

How do you pronounce litotes?: The recorded pronunciation is /laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/.
What does litotes mean?: A figure of speech whereby something is stated by denying its opposite.
Where does litotes come from?: It is traced to Ancient Greek.

How to pronounce litotes

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “litotes”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/laɪˈtəʊ.tiːz/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “litotes”.
Repeat and practice — Say “litotes” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.