balbutier

Senses

1. 1.

   to stammer, to stutter

   to speak with repeated breaks or repetitions of sounds, especially from nervousness or speech impediment

2. 2.

   to mumble, to speak unclearly

   to utter words indistinctly or unintelligibly

3. 3.

   to falter, to express hesitantly

   to speak in a hesitant or uncertain manner, as if groping for words

Examples

• "L'enfant balbutie ses premières paroles."

  The child stammers his first words.

• "Il balbutiait d'émotion en voyant sa mère après tant d'années."

  He mumbled with emotion upon seeing his mother after so many years.

• "Elle balbutia une excuse en baissant les yeux."

  She faltered out an apology, lowering her eyes.

Usage

Balbutier is formal and literary in modern French; informal speakers might prefer "bégayer" for stammer. Often used figuratively to describe hesitant or uncertain speech from shyness, emotion, or lack of confidence. Common in narrative and descriptive contexts.