How to pronounce tap
Say it like TAP. Tap 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 tap. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TAP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of tap
American and British speakers say tap in essentially the same way: /tæp/ in the US and /tæp/ in the UK.
British respelling: TAP.
What does tap mean?
- cut a female screw thread with a tap
- draw from or dip into to get something“tap one's memory”“tap a source of money”
- strike lightly“He tapped me on the shoulder”
- the sound made by a gentle blow
- a gentle blow
- a faucet for drawing water from a pipe or cask
Where does tap come from?
Verb etymology 1, verb sense 1.3.5 (“to turn over (a playing card or playing piece) to remind players that it has already been used in that round”) alludes to the abilities or resources of the card or piece having been drawn on to the point
Words that rhyme with tap
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tap.
Questions about saying tap
How do you pronounce tap?
Say TAP. The American pronunciation is /tæp/. In British English it is /tæp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tap?
Tap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TAP.
Do Americans and Brits say tap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tæp/ and the British form is /tæp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.