How to pronounce caltrop
Say it like KAL-trup. Caltrop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce caltrop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAL
- trup
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Caltrop pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- trupKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of caltrop
American and British speakers say caltrop in essentially the same way: /ˈkæltrəp/ in the US and /ˈkæltrəp/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAL-trup.
What does caltrop mean?
- A metal object, usually small, with spikes arranged so that, when thrown onto the ground, one always faces up as a threat to pedestrians, horses, and vehicles (also used as a heraldic charge).
- The starthistle, Centaurea calcitrapa, a plant with sharp thorns.
- Any of a number of flowering plants in the family Zygophyllaceae, including several members of the genus Kallstroemia and the species Tribulus terrestris, native to warm temperate and tropical regions.
Where does caltrop come from?
From Middle English calketrappe, from Old English calcatrippe, from Medieval Latin calcatrippa (“thistle”), from Latin calx or calcare (“to tread”) + trappa (“trap”).
Questions about saying caltrop
How do you pronounce caltrop?
Say KAL-trup. The American pronunciation is /ˈkæltrəp/. In British English it is /ˈkæltrəp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in caltrop?
Caltrop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAL). Broken into parts: KAL · trup.
Do Americans and Brits say caltrop the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkæltrəp/ and the British form is /ˈkæltrəp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.