3 syllables: An, te, lope. Stress on An.
AN-tuh-lohp
/ˈæntəˌloʊp/
Antelope is pronounced AN-tuh-lohp (/ˈæntəˌloʊp/). It has three syllables (An-te-lope), with the stress on "An". Antelope is a hoofed, swift mammal found in grasslands and savannas, notable for its agility and horns. The word refers to several species within the Bovidae family, including gazelles and gnus. In everyday use, it often denotes the animal itself rather than a general or metaphorical sense, and is commonly used in natural history, travel writing, and wildlife contexts.
nounAntelope is a hoofed, swift mammal found in grasslands and savannas, notable for its agility and horns. The word refers to several species within the Bovidae family, including gazelles and gnus. In everyday use, it often denotes the animal itself rather than a general or metaphorical sense, and is commonly used in natural history, travel writing, and wildlife contexts.
"We spotted an antelope near the waterhole during our safari."
"The antelope leapt gracefully over the low brush as we followed the herd."
"Researchers studied antelope migration patterns across the savanna."
Pronounce as US: /ˈæn.təˌloʊp/. Primary stress on AN, secondary on the LOP segment; the final syllable rhymes with 'hope' but with a quiet -p ending. In IPA: ˈæn.təˌloʊp. Begin with a low-front vowel /æ/, then a schwa /ə/ in the second syllable, followed by /loʊp/ with a rounded, long O. Mouth positions: open front vowel, relaxed mid schwa, then back rounded lip rounding for /oʊ/ and a final aspirated /p/. Audio reference: imagine saying ‘ant’ + ‘a’ + ‘lope’ with a light, short pause between first two syllables; the last syllable carries the long O sound.
Two common errors: (1) Treating the final -ope as a pure short /o/ as in 'hop', producing /ˈæn.tə.lɒp/; correct it to /loʊp/ with a long O. (2) Surfacing a choking, clipped middle /ə/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable; the standard is primary stress on the first syllable with a weaker or secondary stress on the third: /ˈæn.təˌloʊp/. Practice by isolating the final /loʊp/ cluster and ensuring the l, oʊ, and p are cleanly articulated. Consider slower rehearsal: /ˈæn./ /tə./ /loʊp/.
US: clear /æ/ in the first vowel, /ˌloʊp/ final syllable with a prominent long O; rhoticity is present but does not affect this word much. UK: often a slightly lighter /æ/ and sometimes a reduced middle /ə/; final /p/ crisp; non-rhotic tendency does not change nucleus but can soften the /l/ realisation. AU: similar to UK, with a more relaxed /ə/ and possibly a less pronounced /r/ influence; some speakers may merge vowels in faster speech. Overall: stress remains on the first syllable; vowel quality varies subtly, but the final /loʊp/ remains distinct.
The difficulty centers on the final diphthong /oʊ/ in many non-native accents and the two- to three-syllable rhythm with a non-intuitive second syllable /tə/. Learners often misplace stress or reduce the second syllable too aggressively, yielding /ˈæn.tə.p/ or /ˈænt/ə/lope. Additionally, the alveolar /t/ preceding the /ə/ can blur into a flap in rapid speech. Focus on maintaining a clear /tə/ and the long /oʊ/ in /loʊp/.
Yes—three-part syllable architecture: the first syllable is a stressed /æ/, the second is a reduced /tə/ or /tə/ that can blur in rapid speech, and the third is /loʊp/ with a long O. Many learners mis-harmonize the r required by rhotic accents; you should keep the /l/ clear and avoid inserting a syllabic /n/ between /æ/ and /tə/. The word is not trisyllabic in all dialects; in careful speech it remains three distinct syllables.
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The word antelope comes from the 16th-century English adoption of the Dutch or Afrikaans woord antilope, which itself derives from Medieval Latin antīlōpus, combining the Greek prefix anti- for ‘against’ or ‘counter’ with lȯpos ‘mane, crest’ or possibly from a compound referring to a ‘running animal’. The earliest English use attested in the 16th century carries the sense of a ‘game animal’ akin to gazelles and roebucks. Over time, the term broadened in American and British usage to include a range of fast, horned ruminants of the Bovidae family that are not true antelopes in some taxonomic classifications but share common ecological and morphological traits. The word’s spelling stabilized as antelope by the 17th century, and its pronunciation has varied regionally, with stress often placed on the first syllable in many dialects. In contemporary usage, it remains a conventional label for several species, especially gazelles and related African ungulates, and also appears in wildlife journalism, travel narrative, and educational materials. First known use: mid-1500s, borrowed into English from Dutch/Afrikaans, reflecting a European fascination with African fauna during the era of exploration and colonial expansion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Antelope" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Antelope"
-ope sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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