How to pronounce "nap"

nap

Noun
American
/næp/

Syllable Breakdown

nap

How natives say nap

British
/næp/

Syllable Breakdown

nap

How natives say nap

Pronunciation Guide In American

Pronunciation Steps

  • Start with the 'n' sound by placing your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

  • Move to the 'æ' as in 'cat', by opening your mouth wide.

  • Finish with the 'p' sound by closing your lips and then releasing them quickly.

Common Mistakes

  • nap-ee (two syllables)

  • nap-ah (adding extra vowel)

  • nuhp (using 'ʌ' instead of 'æ')

Pronunciation Guide In British

Pronunciation Steps

  • Same as American

common mistakes

  • Same as American

FAQ

How do I pronounce the 'æ' sound?

Open your mouth as if saying 'cat' and keep it wide.

Is there stress on any syllable?

No, 'nap' is only one syllable.

How should my lips be for the 'p' sound?

Close your lips, then release them quickly.

Definition

nap

A short sleep during the day.

Word Family

napping

/ˈnæpɪŋ/

verb

Taking a nap

Example: He is napping now.

napper

/ˈnæpər/

noun

Person who naps

Example: She is a frequent napper.

napkin

/ˈnæpkɪn/

noun

Cloth or paper for wiping

Example: He unfolded the napkin.

Key Pronunciation Differences

Napping ends with /ɪŋ/ sound.

Napper ends with /ər/ sound.

Napkin has a second syllable with /kɪn/.

Pro Tips

Practice Short Vowels

Focus on the short 'æ' sound found in words like 'cat' and 'hat'.

Mind the Syllables

Remember that 'nap' is just one syllable; avoid adding extra sounds.

Nearby Words

Test Your Pronunciation On Words That Have Sound Similarities With Nap

agenda

/əˈdʒɛn.də/

amend

/əˈmɛnd/

anniversary

/ˌænɪˈvɜrsəri/

attend

/əˈtɛnd/

authorize

/ˈɔθəˌraɪz/

beforehand

/bɪˈfɔːrhænd/

center

/ˈsɛn.tɚ/

chronicle

/ˈkrɑːnɪkl̩/

Other Categories

Test Your Pronunciation On Words Within Other Categories

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