How to pronounce blacktop
Say it like BLAK-tahp. Blacktop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BLAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce blacktop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BLAK
- tahp
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Blacktop pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BLAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tahpGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of blacktop
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: BLAK-top.
What does blacktop mean?
- Asphalt concrete or similar bituminous black paving material used for the surface of roads (e.g., tarmacadam, tarmac).
- A road so paved.
- A paved area on a schoolground reserved for recess activities, often doubling as a parking lot.
- To pave with blacktop.“The county first blacktopped that road decades ago”
Where does blacktop come from?
From black + top.
Questions about saying blacktop
How do you pronounce blacktop?
Say BLAK-tahp. The American pronunciation is /ˈblækˌtɑp/. In British English it is /ˈblækˌtɒp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in blacktop?
Blacktop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BLAK). Broken into parts: BLAK · tahp.
Is blacktop pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈblækˌtɒp/ (BLAK-top).