verb

lisp

lihsp

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Lisp (verb) means to pronounce the sounds 's' and 'z' as 'th', usually as a speech habit rather than deliberately. Example: “He's had a slight lisp since childhood and says 'thoup' instead of 'soup'.”

verb

To pronounce the sounds 's' and 'z' as 'th', usually as a speech habit rather than deliberately.

"He's had a slight lisp since childhood and says 'thoup' instead of 'soup'."

"She lisped nervously when the teacher called on her."

noun

A way of speaking in which 's' and 'z' sounds come out as 'th'.

"Speech therapy helped correct his lisp by the time he was ten."

How to use lisp

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSpeaking with a soft 'th' sound where 's' or 'z' should be.

Common mistake

A lisp is a speech pattern, not a stutter (stuttering is repeating or getting stuck on sounds) — the two are often confused.

Easily confused with

stutter →

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: lisps
Third person singular: lisps
Past tense: lisped

Test yourself on “lisp” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He's had a slight _____ since childhood and says 'thoup' instead of 'soup'.

Etymology

From Old English wlisp ("stammering"), going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning much the same thing.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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list-processing language

Rhymes for lisp

wisp crisp

See all rhymes for lisp →

Frequently asked questions

What does “lisp” mean?

The word “lisp” means to pronounce the sounds 's' and 'z' as 'th', usually as a speech habit rather than deliberately. In plain terms, speaking with a soft 'th' sound where 's' or 'z' should be.

How do you pronounce “lisp”?

“Lisp” is pronounced lihsp (/lɪsp/ in IPA).

How do you use “lisp” in a sentence?

Here is “lisp” used in a sentence: “He's had a slight lisp since childhood and says 'thoup' instead of 'soup'.”

What part of speech is “lisp”?

Depending on how it is used, “lisp” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “lisp” come from?

The word “lisp” comes from Old English. From Old English wlisp ("stammering"), going back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning much the same thing.

How many meanings does “lisp” have?

“Lisp” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to pronounce the sounds 's' and 'z' as 'th', usually as a speech habit rather than deliberately.