2 syllables: es, cape. Stress on cape.
/ɪˈskeɪp/
Say it backEscape is a verb (and noun in certain contexts) meaning to break free from confinement or pursuit, or to get away from something undesirable. It can also refer to a route or method of avoidance. As a verb, it involves a combination of an initial /ɪ/ vowel glide into /s/ and /keɪp/ sounds, with emphasis on the second syllable in many pronunciations when used as a verb or noun phrase.
"The prisoner tried to escape through the corridor at midnight."
"A small escape hatch opened to reveal a hidden room behind the wall."
"The road collapse forced them to escape by a detour route."
It’s pronounced /ɪˈskeɪp/ (ih-SKAYP). The stress falls on the second syllable. Start with a short, lax /ɪ/ in the first syllable, then glide into the long /eɪ/ vowel in the second syllable, ending with /p/. Imagine saying ‘ih-SKAYP.’ In careful speech, ensure the mouth opens slightly for /ɪ/ and then closes into a rounded, tense /eɪ/ glide before the /p/ closure. This yields a crisp, ending consonant. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ɪˈskeɪp/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., /ˈiːskeɪp/ or /ˈɛskeɪp/), pronouncing as two equal syllables with a long first vowel, or finishing with an unclear /p/. Correct by keeping the first syllable lax /ɪ/ and stressing the second syllable /ˈskeɪp/, and ensuring the final /p/ is a crisp plosive rather than a nasal or aspirated offglide. Another pitfall is pronouncing /eɪ/ as /iː/ or /eɪə/, which weakens the diphthong. Practice with minimal pairs to lock the rhythm: it-escape vs. es-cape.
In all three accents, the core /ɪ/ + /ˈskeɪp/ pattern remains, but vowel quality and rhoticity tweak the surrounding sound. US and UK both have non-rhotic accents where the r is not pronounced after vowels, but not a factor here since /skeɪp/ ends with a voiceless /p/. UK English often features crisper /p/ release; US may exhibit a shorter, tenser /ɪ/ and a slightly reduced /ɪ/ before /ˈskeɪp/. Australian English generally has a more centralized /ɪ/ and a slightly broader /eɪ/ diphthong, but the overall /ɪˈskeɪp/ structure remains consistent.
The difficulty lies in the two-syllable rhythm with a strong diphthong in the second syllable. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable is often reduced in casual speech, which can blur the word’s onset. The /ˈskeɪp/ cluster requires a precise mouth shape: start with a small front-open /ɪ/, then a rounded, high-mid /eɪ/ glide, and finish with a clear /p/. Native hearing cues, like the abrupt stop of /p/ and the following intonation in a sentence, help distinguish it from similar words like ‘skipe’ or ‘escapee’.
A unique feature is the diphthong in the stressed second syllable: /eɪ/ in /skeɪp/. This requires a smooth tongue elevation and lip rounding from mid to high front position. Also, ensure the final /p/ is aspirated or lightly released depending on context; in rapid speech, it can become a voiceless, clipped closure. The initial /ɪ/ is short and lax, often reduced in connected speech, but in careful pronunciation it remains distinct.
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The verb escape comes from the Old French eschapper, from escaper ‘to escape’ (literally ‘to slip out, slip away’), formed from the prefix es- (out) and escaper (to slip, slip away), which itself derives from Vulgar Latin excappare, and ultimately from Latin excappare’s components ex- (out) and cap-, from capere (to seize). The notion of slipping from confinement or control evolved in Middle English into the modern sense of breaking free from captivity, danger, or constraint. The noun form escape was established in English by the 14th century, originally referring to the act of slipping away or avoidance, and by the 17th–18th centuries it also described routes, devices (e.g., an escape hatch), or opportunities to avoid discomfort. Over time, usage broadened to include figurative senses like “an escape from routine” or “an escape clause” in contracts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "escape" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "escape" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "escape"
-ape sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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