How to pronounce relapse
Say it like ree-LAPS. Relapse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAPS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce relapse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- LAPS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Relapse pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- LAPSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of relapse
American and British speakers say relapse in essentially the same way: /riˈlæps/ in the US and /riˈlæps/ in the UK.
British respelling: ree-LAPS.
What does relapse mean?
- The act or situation of relapsing.“a drug relapse”
- An occasion when a person becomes ill again after a period of improvement
- To fall back again; to slide or turn back into a former state or practice.“He has improved recently but keeps relapsing into states of utter confusion.”
- To recur; to worsen, be aggravated (after a period of improvement).
- To return to a vice, especially self-harm or alcoholism, failing to maintain abstinence.“relapsed after 5 months of being clean”
Where does relapse come from?
From Latin relapsus, past participle of relabi (“to slide back, fall back”), from re- (“back”) + labi (“to slip, slide, fall”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with relapse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of relapse.
Questions about saying relapse
How do you pronounce relapse?
Say ree-LAPS. The American pronunciation is /riˈlæps/. In British English it is /riˈlæps/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in relapse?
Relapse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LAPS). Broken into parts: ree · LAPS.
Do Americans and Brits say relapse the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /riˈlæps/ and the British form is /riˈlæps/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.