How to pronounce cap
Say it like KAP. Cap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- KAP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of cap
American and British speakers say cap in essentially the same way: /kæp/ in the US and /kæp/ in the UK.
British respelling: KAP.
What does cap mean?
- A close-fitting hat, either brimless or peaked.“The children were all wearing caps to protect them from the sun.”
- A special hat to indicate rank, occupation, etc.
- An academic mortarboard.
- To cover or seal with a cap.
- To award a cap as a mark of distinction.
- To lie over or on top of something.
- Capitalization.
- A capital letter.
- A capacitor.“parasitic caps”
Where does cap come from?
Inherited from Middle English cappe, from Old English cæppe, from Proto-West Germanic *kappā (“covering, hood, mantle”), from Late Latin cappa, itself from Latin caput.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with cap
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cap.
Questions about saying cap
How do you pronounce cap?
Say KAP. The American pronunciation is /kæp/. In British English it is /kæp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cap?
Cap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KAP.
Do Americans and Brits say cap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kæp/ and the British form is /kæp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.