How to pronounce zap
Say it like ZAP. Zap 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 zap. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ZAP
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Zap pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ZAPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of zap
American and British speakers say zap in essentially the same way: /zæp/ in the US and /zæp/ in the UK.
British respelling: ZAP.
What does zap mean?
- A sound made by a sudden release of electricity or some similar energy.
- An electric shock.“You might feel a little zap touching a metal doorknob when the air is dry.”
- A raucous public demonstration designed to embarrass a public figure or celebrity as a form of political activism.
- To make a zap sound.
- To use a remote control to repeatedly fast-forward or change channels on a television.
- To strike (something or someone) with electricity or energy, as by shooting.“They spent the whole movie zapping bad guys into oblivion.”
- Representing the sound or action of a zap.“Then the computer went zap and I lost all my work.”
Where does zap come from?
1920s, American English, of imitative origin.
Words that rhyme with zap
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of zap.
Questions about saying zap
How do you pronounce zap?
Say ZAP. The American pronunciation is /zæp/. In British English it is /zæp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in zap?
Zap is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: ZAP.
Do Americans and Brits say zap the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /zæp/ and the British form is /zæp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.