How to pronounce lapse
Say it like LAPS. Lapse 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 lapse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAPS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lapse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAPSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of lapse
American and British speakers say lapse in essentially the same way: /læps/ in the US and /læps/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAPS.
What does lapse mean?
- To fall away gradually; to subside.
- To fall into error or heresy.
- To slip into a bad habit that one is trying to avoid.
- A temporary failure; a slip.“memory lapse”
- A decline or fall in standards.
- A pause in continuity.
Where does lapse come from?
From Middle French laps, from Latin lāpsus, from lābī (“to slip”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with lapse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lapse.
Questions about saying lapse
How do you pronounce lapse?
Say LAPS. The American pronunciation is /læps/. In British English it is /læps/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lapse?
Lapse is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: LAPS.
Do Americans and Brits say lapse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /læps/ and the British form is /læps/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.