How to pronounce trap
Say it like TRAP. Trap 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 trap. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TRAP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Trap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TRAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of trap
American and British speakers say trap in essentially the same way: /træp/ in the US and /træp/ in the UK.
British respelling: TRAP.
What does trap mean?
- a device in which something (usually an animal) can be caught and penned
- drain consisting of a U-shaped section of drainpipe that holds liquid and so prevents a return flow of sewer gas
- something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares“the exam was full of trap questions”“it was all a snare and delusion”
- place in a confining or embarrassing position“He was trapped in a difficult situation”
- catch in or as if in a trap“The men trap foxes”
- hold or catch as if in a trap“The gaps between the teeth trap food particles”
Where does trap come from?
Cognate with Dutch trap (“step, stair”), German Low German Trapp (“step, stair”).
Words that rhyme with trap
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of trap.
Questions about saying trap
How do you pronounce trap?
Say TRAP. The American pronunciation is /træp/. In British English it is /træp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in trap?
Trap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TRAP.
Do Americans and Brits say trap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /træp/ and the British form is /træp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.