slather
/ˈslæðə(ɹ)/verb, noun
slather is spelled S-L-A-T-H-E-R: 7 letters and 2 syllables. It appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 72,332nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, slather means “To spread something thickly on something else; to coat well” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in slather?
| Letters | 7: S-L-A-T-H-E-R |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 6 million words; the 72,332nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is slather?
Slather appears about once in every 6 million words in written English, the 72,332nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce slather?
- /ˈslæðə(ɹ)/
Slather has 2 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-slather.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of slather
- slathers present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- slathering participle, present
- slathered participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does slather mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To spread something thickly on something else; to coat well.
I slathered jam on my toast.
- 2
To apply generously upon.
I slathered my toast with jam.
- 3
To squander.
- 4
To rain.
noun
- 1
A thick sauce or spread that is to be slathered (spread thickly) onto food.
- 2
Drool (especially if abundant).
[The river] Ván in SnE I 21 is mentioned as coming from the slather of the bound Fenris Wolf.
- 3
A generous or abundant quantity.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Slather in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | appliquer quelque chose épais , appliquer une généreuse quantité |
| German | auftragen, einschmieren |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does slather come from?
Unknown; attested from early 19th century, in the sense "to slip, slide". For the sense "to rain", compare East Frisian sladdern and northern German schladdern ("to rain noisily").
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).