pitter-patter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, literary, onomatopoeic
Quick answer
What does “pitter-patter” mean?
A light, rapid, tapping sound, often made by small, soft impacts like rain or small feet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A light, rapid, tapping sound, often made by small, soft impacts like rain or small feet.
Used to evoke a sense of light, hurried movement or a gentle, rhythmic sound. Can describe emotional flutterings (e.g., a heart).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. Slightly more common in UK literary/descriptive contexts.
Connotations
Evokes cosiness, gentle weather, or childhood in both variants.
Frequency
Low frequency in formal contexts, but recognisable in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “pitter-patter” in a Sentence
the pitter-patter of (rain/feet)hear/ listened to the pitter-patter(rain/heart) pitter-pattersVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “pitter-patter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The rain began to pitter-patter against the conservatory roof.
- My heart pitter-pattered with nervous excitement.
American English
- Little raindrops pitter-pattered on the tin awning.
- Her heart pitter-pattered when she saw the surprise.
adverb
British English
- The mice ran pitter-patter across the attic floor.
- The keys tapped pitter-patter on the desk.
American English
- The hail came down pitter-patter on the car hood.
- She typed pitter-patter on her old keyboard.
adjective
British English
- (Rare as pure adjective) They fell asleep to the pitter-patter rhythm of the shower.
American English
- (Rare) We listened to the pitter-patter sound of sleet on the window.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, only in literary analysis or descriptive passages.
Everyday
Used to describe light rain or the sound of small animals/children.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “pitter-patter”
- Using it for loud, heavy sounds (e.g., 'the pitter-patter of horse hooves' is wrong).
- Overusing in formal writing.
- Incorrect stress: it's PIT-ter-PAT-ter, not pit-ter-PAT-ter.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in literary contexts to describe a light, rapid, or nervous heartbeat (e.g., 'Her heart went pitter-patter').
It is almost always hyphenated: 'pitter-patter'. The unhyphenated form is rare and non-standard.
'Pitter-patter' is more specific and onomatopoeic, emphasising the alternating light sounds. 'Pattering' is a more general verb for a series of light taps.
No. While commonly associated with rain, it can describe any light, rapid, tapping sound: small feet, fingers drumming, light hail, etc.
A light, rapid, tapping sound, often made by small, soft impacts like rain or small feet.
Pitter-patter is usually informal, literary, onomatopoeic in register.
Pitter-patter: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɪt.ə ˈpæt.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɪt̬.ɚ ˈpæt̬.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the pitter-patter of tiny feet (euphemism for expecting a baby or having young children)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound of RAIN on a WINDOW: PITTER on the glass, PATTER on the ledge.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUND IS LIGHT PHYSICAL CONTACT (e.g., taps, kisses); TIME/RHYTHM IS A SERIES OF STEPS.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'pitter-patter' LEAST appropriate?