How to pronounce cop
Say it like KOP. Cop is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cop pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of cop
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KOP.
What does cop mean?
- uncomplimentary terms for a policeman
- take by theft“Someone snitched my wallet!”
- take into custody“the police nabbed the suspected criminals”
Where does cop come from?
Uncertain. Perhaps from Middle English *coppen, *copen, from Old English copian (“to plunder; pillage; steal”); or possibly from Middle French caper (“to capture”), from Latin capiō (“to seize, grasp”); or possibly from Dutch kapen (“to sei
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with cop
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cop.
Questions about saying cop
How do you pronounce cop?
Say KOP. The American pronunciation is /kɑp/. In British English it is /kɒp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cop?
Cop is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KOP.
Is cop 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 /kɒp/ (KOP).