One syllable: gaps.
/ɡæps/
gaps is pronounced /ɡæps/. It has one syllable (gaps), with the stress on "gaps". Gaps (plural noun) refer to spaces, openings, or intervals where something is missing or not continuous. They can be physical (holes) or metaphorical (absences in knowledge or opportunities), and often imply a need to bridge or fill them. The term is common across contexts from construction to discussion of data or timing.
Say it backGaps (plural noun) refer to spaces, openings, or intervals where something is missing or not continuous. They can be physical (holes) or metaphorical (absences in knowledge or opportunities), and often imply a need to bridge or fill them. The term is common across contexts from construction to discussion of data or timing.
"There were several gaps in the fence that a cat could slip through."
"The data gaps in the report made it hard to draw firm conclusions."
"We filled the knowledge gaps with targeted training."
Gaps is pronounced /ɡæps/. Start with a voiced velar plosive /ɡ/ as in 'go'. Then the short open front unrounded vowel /æ/ like in 'cat'. End with the voiceless alveolar sibilant /s/ as in 'see', making sure the tip of the tongue touches the ridge behind your top front teeth for a crisp /s/. The final /s/ should be unvoiced and sharp. The primary stress is on the single syllable. You can listen to an example on Pronounce or Forvo for US/UK/AU variants; the mouth positions are the same across these accents for this word.
Common mistakes include merging the vowel with a schwa (saying /ɡəps/), over-elongating the vowel (/ɡeɪps/), or turning /æ/ into /e/ in rapid speech. To correct: keep a short, flat /æ/ as in 'cat' without lifting into /e/; end with a crisp /s/ rather than a voiced /z/; ensure the /ɡ/ is released firmly before the front vowel. Practice isolating the /ɡ/ and /æ/ with minimal pairs like 'gag' vs 'gap' to solidify the tongue position, then add the final /s/.
Across US, UK, and AU, the /ɡæps/ nucleus remains consistent; differences are subtle. In many US accents, the /æ/ can be a bit tenser and closer to /æː/ in some dialects. UK RP typically has a pure /æ/ with less nasalization and a crisper /s/. Australian English maintains /æ/ similarly but can have a slightly more centralized vowel in fast speech, and a marginally flatter intonation. Overall, the core segments stay the same; listening for vowel quality and speed helps distinguish accents.
The difficulty lies mainly in producing a clean, rapid sequence: a brief onset /ɡ/ release, a short /æ/ vowel, and a crisp /p/ followed by a voiceless /s/. Many speakers fuse /æ/ with neighboring sounds or fail to finalize the /s/ distinctly, turning it into /z/ or dropping it. Also, the /æ/ can be influenced by surrounding letters in connected speech, making it sound more like a schwa. Focus on separate, crisp articulations and practice transitions from the vowel to the following /p/ and then /s/.
A useful tip is to practice the sequence by saying 'gaps' in slow motion: /ɡ/ + /æ/ + /p/ + /s/ with a quick, light release for the /p/ and a voiceless sibilant. Emphasize the boundary between /p/ and /s/ by slightly widening the space and keeping lips and tongue relaxed after the /p/ release, so the /s/ can be crisp. Record yourself and compare to a native speaker to ensure the /æ/ stays short and the /s/ remains unvoiced.
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Gaps comes from the early Middle English gappe, related to the Old Norse gap, and ultimately connected to the Proto-Germanic word gawpaz, implying an opening or fissure. The sense evolved from a physical crevice or breach in a barrier to more abstract openings or omissions. By the 16th century, gap had begun to appear in phrases describing intervals in time or spaces in data and knowledge. Over time, the term gained versatility across domains: in construction, a gap is a measurable space between components; in discourse, a gap denotes missing information or logical leaps; in finance, it can indicate a discrepancy or an unrealized opportunity. The plural form gaps maintains the same core sense of multiple openings or absences, often highlighting the need to bridge or address them. First known written usage traces to Middle English texts describing wall gaps and gaps in hedges, with later medical and academic usage emphasizing informational or temporal discontinuities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gaps" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "gaps"
-aps sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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