How to pronounce laptop
Say it like LAP-tahp. Laptop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce laptop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAP
- tahp
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Laptop pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tahpGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of laptop
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: LAP-top.
What does laptop mean?
- a portable computer small enough to use in your lap
Where does laptop come from?
From lap (“upper legs of a seated person”) + top, modeled after desktop.
Questions about saying laptop
How do you pronounce laptop?
Say LAP-tahp. The American pronunciation is /ˈlæpˌtɑp/. In British English it is /ˈlæpˌtɒp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in laptop?
Laptop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAP). Broken into parts: LAP · tahp.
Is laptop 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 /ˈlæpˌtɒp/ (LAP-top).