How to pronounce nap
Say it like NAP. Nap 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 nap. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NAP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of nap
American and British speakers say nap in essentially the same way: /næp/ in the US and /næp/ in the UK.
British respelling: NAP.
What does nap mean?
- a period of time spent sleeping“he felt better after a little sleep”“there wasn't time for a nap”
- a soft or fuzzy surface texture
- the yarn (as in a rug or velvet or corduroy) that stands up from the weave“for uniform color and texture tailors cut velvet with the pile running the same direction”
- take a siesta“She naps everyday after lunch for an hour”
Where does nap come from?
From Middle English nappen, from Old English hnappian (“to doze, slumber, sleep”), from Proto-West Germanic *hnappōn (“to nap”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with nap
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nap.
Questions about saying nap
How do you pronounce nap?
Say NAP. The American pronunciation is /næp/. In British English it is /næp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nap?
Nap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NAP.
Do Americans and Brits say nap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /næp/ and the British form is /næp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.