One syllable: clap.
klap
/klæp/
clap is pronounced klap (/klæp/). It has one syllable (clap), with the stress on "clap". Clap is a short, explosive vocal-tract event produced by quickly bringing the hands together to make a sharp sound, often as a greeting, celebration, or cue. In phonetic terms, the word itself is monosyllabic, with a crisp initial consonant blend and a short, open vowel prominence that emphasizes the plosive release. It can also function as a verb or noun in contexts like performance, applause, or signaling approval.
Clap is a short, explosive vocal-tract event produced by quickly bringing the hands together to make a sharp sound, often as a greeting, celebration, or cue. In phonetic terms, the word itself is monosyllabic, with a crisp initial consonant blend and a short, open vowel prominence that emphasizes the plosive release. It can also function as a verb or noun in contexts like performance, applause, or signaling approval.
"She gave a loud clap to celebrate the victory."
"The audience erupted in a rapid clap after the finale."
"Please clap along to the rhythm.”"
You pronounce clap as a single stressed syllable /klæp/. Start with the /k/ hard stop, move into the /l/ with the tongue at the alveolar ridge, then the short /æ/ as in cat, and finish with a crisp /p/ release. The vowel is short and lax, and there’s no post-vocalic /ə/ or additional syllable. Tip: keep the mouth in a rounded position for the /k/ and then switch quickly to a tight, fronted vowel before a sharp /p/ release. Audio reference: approximate IPA guidance: US/UK/AU /klæp/.
Common mistakes include inserting an extra vowel after the /p/ (e.g., /klæpə/), softening the final /p/ into a /b/ or a voiced stop, and letting the /æ/ drift toward /eɪ/ or /ɐ/ in rapid speech. To correct: solidify the final /p/ with a crisp, small burst of air immediately after the tongue release; keep the vowel short and lax near /æ/ without vowel lengthening; practice stopping the breath after the /p/ to avoid trailing vocalization. Maintain a strong onset with /kl-/ cluster before the vowel.
In US, UK, and AU accents, clap is rhotic-neutral for vowels and the /l/ is light but present. The main variation lies in vowel quality and the hard /k/ onset clarity. US tends to a slightly more open /æ/ with a faster transition to /p/, UK often has a marginally tenser /æ/ and crisper /p/; AU can fuse a slightly more relaxed vowel yet maintain a crisp final /p/. Stress is stable (monosyllabic).IPA references: US /klæp/, UK /klæp/, AU /klæp/.
The difficulty centers on achieving a precise, compact consonant cluster at the start and end: intentionally silent or glottalized release is common in casual speech, while the /t/ or /d/ fusions aren’t present; the /æ/ must stay short and bright without vowel lengthening in fast speech; and the final /p/ needs a clean, unreleased or lightly released closure. Mastery requires balanced articulator positions for /k/, /l/, and /æ/, plus a sharp, controlled /p/ release with minimal voicing. This precision matters especially in rapid, connected speech.
A distinctive feature is the tight alveolar-onset /kl/ cluster followed by a very short vowel and a plosive final /p/. The word relies on an explosive, percussive moment rather than sustained voicing. You’ll hear a quick transition: tongue lands for /k/, glides into /l/ with minimal vowel duration, then a sharp /p/. Ensuring no extra syllables or vowel length keeps clap as a precise, one-syllable utterance.
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- US: maintain a strong, clear /æ/ and crisp /p/; allow a slightly stronger /k/ onset with a light lift into /l/; aim for a tight mouth posture without over-rounding. - UK: slightly tenser /æ/; crisper /p/ and more forward tongue position for /l/. - AU: similar to US with a tendency to be a touch more relaxed in vowel space; keep plosive release sharp and avoid vowel lengthening. IPA: /klæp/ across.
The word clap traces to Middle English clappen or clapien, meaning to strike or beat swiftly, reflecting the action of bringing hands together to produce a sharp sound. Its semantic journey centers on the physical act of striking, expanding to the audible outcome—clap as a noun for the sound of hands striking or the act of applauding. The earliest attestations surface in Old English and early Middle English texts, often in onomatopoeic forms that imitate the abrupt, percussive sound. Over time, clap stabilized into a straightforward, monosyllabic term in modern English with two primary parts of speech: verb (to clap) and noun (a clap, or applause). In many languages, cognate terms retain the sense of striking or sound-making, underscoring cross-linguistic associations between action and audible feedback. The evolution reflects social behaviors surrounding gatherings, performances, and ceremonies where group approval or encouragement is expressed through a rapid, collective sound. Today, “clap” is ubiquitous in everyday English, used across formal and informal contexts to denote both the act of striking hands together and the resulting sound, as well as the burst of applause that signal appreciation or celebration.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "clap" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "clap" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "clap" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "clap"
-rap sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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