Littany vs. Litany — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 31, 2024
"Littany" is an incorrect spelling, while "Litany" is correct. Litany refers to a series of prayers or a repetitive chant.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Littany or Litany
How to spell Litany?
Littany
Incorrect Spelling
Litany
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of "little," but remember that "litany" isn't spelled with a double "t."
Litany has the same number of syllables as "prayer," which is what it often means.
Recall that a "litany" is a list in church services, with no extra "t" needed.
Picture the word "lit" as in illuminated, which church prayers aim to do for the spirit.
Use mnemonic: "Lit candles need no extra 't' in litany."
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How Do You Spell Litany Correctly?
Incorrect: She recited a littany of complaints about the day she had.
Correct: She recited a litany of complaints about the day she had.
Litany Definitions
The term can describe a prolonged or repetitive account.
Mark gave a litany of reasons why he was late.
A litany is a series of religious petitions or prayers, usually recited by a leader and responded to by a congregation.
The priest led the congregation in a solemn litany.
Litany can refer to any tedious or repetitive recital or account.
She had a litany of complaints about the service.
A litany is a formalized set of requests or appeals, often chanted or sung in religious ceremonies.
The choir performed the litany beautifully.
In the Christian Church, a litany is a form of prayer with responses from the congregation.
The litany during the Easter service was especially moving.
(Christianity) A liturgical prayer consisting of a series of petitions recited by a leader alternating with fixed responses by the congregation.
A repetitive recital, series, or list
"the litany of layoffs in recent months by corporate giants" (Sylvia Nasar).
A ritual liturgical prayer in which a series of prayers recited by a leader are alternated with responses from the congregation.
(figurative) A prolonged or tedious list.
A solemn form of supplication in the public worship of various churches, in which the clergy and congregation join, the former leading and the latter responding in alternate sentences. It is usually of a penitential character.
Supplications . . . for the appeasing of God's wrath were of the Greek church termed litanies, and rogations of the Latin.
Any long and tedious address or recital;
The patient recited a litany of complaints
A litany of failures
A prayer consisting of a series of invocations by the priest with responses from the congregation
Litany Meaning in a Sentence
She expressed a litany of concerns regarding the project's direction.
The teacher gave a litany of instructions before the test began.
The litany of symptoms made the diagnosis challenging.
The brochure listed a litany of amenities available at the resort.
The litany of complaints against the company led to an investigation.
The novel contained a litany of characters, each with their own backstory.
The politician's speech was a litany of promises for the future.
The film's credits rolled, followed by a litany of thanks to the crew.
He provided a litany of examples to support his argument.
He listed a litany of achievements during his tenure.
The litany of rules was posted at the entrance of the park.
The documentary featured a litany of experts from various disciplines.
She sent a litany of text messages, each more urgent than the last.
Their argument was a litany of blame and accusations.
Her resignation letter was a litany of frustrations with the corporate culture.
The litany of chores seemed never-ending.
His farewell was a litany of thanks to those who had supported him.
The safety manual included a litany of scenarios and responses.
The conference agenda was a litany of topics covering every aspect of the field.
The therapist listened to a litany of issues the couple faced.
The article was a litany of the year's most significant events.
The litany of ingredients required for the recipe was daunting.
The lecture was a litany of dates and events without much explanation.
The book was a litany of the injustices suffered by the community.
The litany of natural disasters that year was unprecedented.
Litany Idioms & Phrases
Recite a litany
To list items in a tedious or prolonged manner.
He could recite a litany of reasons why the project failed.
A litany of errors
A long list of mistakes.
The report was dismissed due to a litany of errors.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Litany?
It is pronounced as /ˈlɪtəni/.
Which vowel is used before Litany?
Any vowel can precede "litany" depending on the context, but "a" is commonly used as in "a litany."
Why is it called Litany?
Litany is derived from the Greek word "litaneia," meaning "entreaty."
What is the verb form of Litany?
Litany is a noun; it doesn't have a direct verb form. However, one might "recite" or "chant" a litany.
Which preposition is used with Litany?
"Of" is commonly used, as in "a litany of complaints."
What is the singular form of Litany?
The singular form is "litany."
What is the plural form of Litany?
The plural form is "litanies."
What is the root word of Litany?
The root word is "litaneia" from Ancient Greek.
Is Litany a noun or adjective?
Litany is a noun.
Is Litany a collective noun?
No, it is not a collective noun.
What part of speech is Litany?
Litany is a noun.
Which conjunction is used with Litany?
Any conjunction can be used with "litany" depending on the sentence structure, such as "and" or "but."
Is Litany a countable noun?
Yes, you can have one litany or multiple litanies.
Is the Litany term a metaphor?
It can be used metaphorically, as in "a litany of problems."
How many syllables are in Litany?
Litany has three syllables.
How do we divide Litany into syllables?
Li-ta-ny.
What is the opposite of Litany?
There isn't a direct opposite, but a unique or singular item might contrast with a "litany" of items.
Which determiner is used with Litany?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or "each" can be used with "litany."
Which article is used with Litany?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "litany" depending on context.
Is Litany an abstract noun?
Yes, it is an abstract noun as it represents an idea or concept.
Is the word Litany is imperative?
No, "litany" is not an imperative verb form.
What is a stressed syllable in Litany?
The first syllable, "Li," is stressed.
What is another term for Litany?
Chant or prayer can be synonyms in certain contexts.
What is the first form of Litany?
Litany is a noun and doesn't have verb forms.
What is the second form of Litany?
As mentioned, litany is a noun and doesn't have verb forms.
How is Litany used in a sentence?
"The teacher had a long litany of rules that the students had to follow."
Is Litany a negative or positive word?
Neutral in itself, but context may give it positive or negative connotations.
Is Litany a vowel or consonant?
"Litany" is a word, not a single letter. However, it begins with a consonant.
Is the word Litany is Gerund?
No, "litany" is not a gerund.
Is the word “Litany” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Litany" can function as a direct object, as in "He recited a litany."
Is Litany an adverb?
No, litany is not an adverb.
What is the third form of Litany?
Again, litany is a noun and doesn't have verb forms.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.