One syllable: Crepe.
krayp
/kɹeɪp/
Crepe is pronounced krayp (/kɹeɪp/). It has one syllable (Crepe), with the stress on "Crepe". Crepe is a thin, delicate pancake made from batter and cooked on a flat pan. It can be served sweet or savory, often rolled or folded with fillings. The term also refers to a fabric with a crinkled surface. In American English, crepe typically denotes the pancake, while in British usage it can also refer to a thinner pancake variant or a crepe cake when pluralized.
nounCrepe is a thin, delicate pancake made from batter and cooked on a flat pan. It can be served sweet or savory, often rolled or folded with fillings. The term also refers to a fabric with a crinkled surface. In American English, crepe typically denotes the pancake, while in British usage it can also refer to a thinner pancake variant or a crepe cake when pluralized.
- Common Mistake 1: Mixing /eɪ/ with /iː/ as in 'creep'. Correction: keep a true /eɪ/ diphthong, lengthened slightly but not dragging into /iː/. - Common Mistake 2: Dropping the /ɹ/ or not releasing the /p/ crisply. Correction: ensure /ɹ/ is audible after /k/, and finish with a clean, short /p/. - Common Mistake 3: Overemphasizing the /ɹ/ making it sound like 'crape' vs 'crepe'. Correction: maintain a light, quivering /ɹ/ and avoid vowel reduction in connected speech. Practice: minimal pairs and tongue-tap drills to keep the mouth ready for the next word.
How to Pronounce Crepe
"I had a banana and Nutella crepe for breakfast."
"In Paris, street vendors sell crepes filled with ham and cheese."
"We served crêpes Suzette with Grand Marnier for dessert."
Pronounce as /kɹeɪp/ in US/UK/AU with a single syllable and long 'a' as in 'rain'. Start with a light /k/ release, raise the tongue for /ɹ/, glide into /eɪ/ as in 'day', then close with /p/. The final sound is a clean bilabial stop. Keep the mouth rounded slightly for the /eɪ/ vowel but finish with a brisk /p/ without aspirating. Audio reference: consider listening to native speakers on Pronounce or YouGlish for real-world timing.
Common errors: 1) Saying /kɹɛp/ with a short e as in 'pet'; 2) Deleting the /r/ or turning it into a vowel-like /ə/; 3) Using an exaggerated diphthong or prolonging the vowel. Correction: use /eɪ/ as in 'day' for the vowel, keep the /ɹ/ rhotic after /k/, and end with a short, unaspirated /p/. Practice minimal pairs like /kɹeɪp/ vs. /kɹɛp/ and slow, precise timing of the /p/ release.
In US/UK/AU, the core /kɹeɪp/ remains similar, but rhoticity can affect secondary vowel quality around /ɹ/. In non-rhotic accents (some UK varieties), you might perceive a lighter or elided /r/ in connected speech, though careful enunciation keeps the /ɹ/ audible in isolated words. Australian speakers typically preserve rhotic /ɹ/ more consistently, with a clear /eɪ/ diphthong. Overall, the main feature is the long /eɪ/ and the clean /p/ release, with minor vowel coloring differences.
The difficulty lies in the single-syllable, rapid articulation of /kɹeɪp/, especially the transition from /k/ to /ɹ/ and from /eɪ/ to final /p/. Some speakers don’t fully compress the /p/ stop, giving a puff of air, while others merge the /ɹ/ with preceding vowels. Also, non-native speakers may expect a silent /e/ and mispronounce as /krep/ with a short vowel. Focus on a smooth /kɹ/ onset, stable /eɪ/ nucleus, and a crisp /p/ release.
Crepe features a rounded, centralized tongue position for /ɹ/ and a tense, tense vowel /eɪ/. The ability to anchor the /ɹ/ before the vowel, then glide into /eɪ/ requires careful lip rounding and jaw posture. The expectation of a crisp /p/ closure at the end helps distinguish it from similar words like 'creep' (/kriːp/) or 'crape' (a different word with alternate pronunciations). This word benefits from practicing precise timing between onset, nucleus, and coda.
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- US: rhotic, you’ll hear a full /ɹ/; keep the tongue curled slightly toward the palate. - UK: often non-rhotic in connected speech; keep /ɹ/ clear in careful speech but expect a lighter touch in casual speech. - AU: rhotic with clear /ɹ/; tends to have slightly broader vowel shifts; the /eɪ/ tends to remain fronted and brighter. All: use IPA reference /kɹeɪp/ and integrate into sentences to practice flow.
Crepe comes from French crêpe, from the Old French crespe meaning curled or crinkled, likely related to crumpled or wrinkled textures. The term entered English via culinary usage in the 19th century, originally describing a thin pancake in French cuisine. The word evolved to encompass both sweet and savory versions, with regional spelling variations (crêpe in France, crepe in English-adoption) and later extended to describe crinkled fabrics with a similar surface texture. Early English culinary texts cite griddle-made wafers and thin pancakes akin to crêpes, and by the 20th century crepe cake and other uses emerged in restaurants and cookbooks. Over time, the pronunciation and spelling in English stabilized: crepe, pronounced with a long e in many dialects, differentiates from crepe (the fabric) and crêpe (the original French spelling). First known use in English literature appears in the 19th century culinary records, aligning with the broader adoption of French culinary terms in European cuisine.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Crepe" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Crepe" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Crepe" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Crepe"
-eep sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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