How to pronounce eavesdrop
Say it like EEVZ-drahp. Eavesdrop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EEVZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce eavesdrop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EEVZ
- drahp
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Eavesdrop pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EEVZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- drahpGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of eavesdrop
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: EEVZ-drop.
What does eavesdrop mean?
- To hear (intentionally) a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.“I hope nobody was eavesdropping on our conversation last night, since it got so personal.”
- To listen for another organism's calls, so as to exploit them.
- The dripping of rain from the eaves of a house.
- The space around a house on which such water drips.
- A concealed aperture through which an occupant of a building can surreptitiously listen to people talking at an entrance to the building.
Where does eavesdrop come from?
From eaves + drop; the "listening" sense derives from the notion of the listener standing in the area denoted by the physical sense.
Questions about saying eavesdrop
How do you pronounce eavesdrop?
Say EEVZ-drahp. The American pronunciation is /ˈivzˌdrɑp/. In British English it is /ˈiːvzˌdrɒp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in eavesdrop?
Eavesdrop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EEVZ). Broken into parts: EEVZ · drahp.
Is eavesdrop 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 /ˈiːvzˌdrɒp/ (EEVZ-drop).