Skip to main content
2 of 2
Add [ˈbɪtr], as brought up by Toscho
chirlu
  • 19.8k
  • 2
  • 54
  • 80

The standard pronunciation for bitter is [ˈbɪtɐ], i.e. the phonemes /ər/ are represented by the vowel [ɐ]; for bitte, it is [ˈbɪtə], only differing in the final vowel, but clearly distinguishable for German native speakers.

The pronunciation [ˈbɪtər], as heard in your linked example, is very unusual, probably only used when over-enunciating. It is recommended in Theodor Siebs’s Bühnenaussprache (pronunciation for theater actors), which was described as “ridiculous” already a hundred years ago.

On the other hand, [ˈbɪtr] without an ə (or with only a very weak one) does occur in several regional variants of German, e.g. in Switzerland.

chirlu
  • 19.8k
  • 2
  • 54
  • 80