How to pronounce lockup
Say it like LOK-uhp. Lockup has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOK).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lockup. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈlɑˌkʌp/LOK-uhp
UK British/ˈlɒˌkʌp/LOK-uhp
- LOK
- uhp
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lockup pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- uhpGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of lockup
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: LOK-uhp.
What does lockup mean?
noun
- A jail cell; a period of incarceration in such a cell; a facility containing such cells.“He's in lockup for 30 days for drunk and disorderly.”
- A storage unit with a door secured by a padlock or deadbolt; a garage.“Joe keeps his other car in a lockup downtown.”
- A condition in which one or more of a vehicle's wheels suddenly cease to rotate due to the application of excessive brake torque, causing the affected wheel(s) to skid.
Where does lockup come from?
Deverbal from lock up.
Questions about saying lockup
How do you pronounce lockup?
Say LOK-uhp. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɑˌkʌp/. In British English it is /ˈlɒˌkʌp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lockup?
Lockup has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LOK). Broken into parts: LOK · uhp.
Is lockup 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 /ˈlɒˌkʌp/ (LOK-uhp).