What is dissimilation?

Dissimilation is when sounds change to be more different from each other, like when two similar things become less alike.

Imagine you're playing with a set of blocks that all look the same at first. But then, one block becomes a little taller and another gets a bit shorter. Now they don’t match as well, they’ve dissimilarized! That’s what happens in dissimilation: sounds or letters change so they’re not as similar anymore.

Think about the word “butter.” It has two t sounds. But sometimes people say “buter” instead, the second t becomes an r. That’s dissimilation: the second t changed to make it less like the first one.

Or think of two friends who used to dress exactly alike every day, same clothes, same shoes. But then one starts wearing a hat and the other wears glasses. Now they’re not as similar anymore, they’ve dissimilarized just like sounds can in words!

It’s like when you try to make your room look different from your sibling's, even if you both used to have the exact same toys! Dissimilation is when sounds change to be more different from each other, like when two similar things become less alike.

Imagine you're playing with a set of blocks that all look the same at first. But then, one block becomes a little taller and another gets a bit shorter. Now they don’t match as well, they’ve dissimilarized! That’s what happens in dissimilation: sounds or letters change so they’re not as similar anymore.