How to pronounce staple
Say it like STAY-pul. Staple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce staple. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STAY
- pul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Staple pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- pulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of staple
American and British speakers say staple in essentially the same way: /ˈsteɪpəl/ in the US and /ˈsteɪpəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: STAY-pul.
What does staple mean?
- (usually in the plural) a necessary commodity for which demand is constant
- a natural fiber (raw cotton, wool, hemp, flax) that can be twisted to form yarn“staple fibers vary widely in length”
- material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing
- secure or fasten with a staple or staples“staple the papers together”
- necessary or important, especially regarding food or commodities“wheat is a staple crop”
Where does staple come from?
From Middle English staple, from Anglo-Norman estaple, Old French estaple (“market, (trading) post”), from Late Latin stapula, from Frankish *stapul, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *stapulaz (“post”), from Proto-Indo-European *stebʰ- (“post, stem”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with staple
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of staple.
Questions about saying staple
How do you pronounce staple?
Say STAY-pul. The American pronunciation is /ˈsteɪpəl/. In British English it is /ˈsteɪpəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in staple?
Staple has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STAY). Broken into parts: STAY · pul.
Do Americans and Brits say staple the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsteɪpəl/ and the British form is /ˈsteɪpəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.