pitter-patter

noun
UK: /ˌpɪt.əˈpæt.ər/
US: /ˌpɪt̬.ɚˈpæt̬.ɚ/

  1. A light, rapid series of taps or footsteps.

    1. I heard the pitter-patter of rain on the roof last night.
    2. The pitter-patter of little feet announced the children's arrival home from school.

Synonyms

rat-tat tap thrum pit-a-pat pat
pitter-patter verb

  1. To make a light, rapid series of tapping sounds.

    1. Rain began to pitter-patter on the window pane.
    2. I could hear his little feet pitter-patter down the hallway towards the kitchen.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "pitter-patter" is /ˌpɪt.əˈpæt.ər/ in British English and /ˌpɪt̬.ɚˈpæt̬.ɚ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pitter-patter": rat-tat, tap, thrum, pit-a-pat, pat.

Example usage of "pitter-patter": "I heard the pitter-patter of rain on the roof last night.". More examples on the page.