One syllable: lapse.
laps
/læps/
lapse is pronounced laps (/læps/). It has one syllable (lapse), with the stress on "lapse". Lapse (noun or verb) refers to a temporary failure or slip in judgment, memory, or continued progress. It can also denote a brief interval or gap in time or activity. The term often implies a slide from a standard or rule, followed by a return to normal or improved performance. 2-4 sentences, 50-80 words max.
Lapse (noun or verb) refers to a temporary failure or slip in judgment, memory, or continued progress. It can also denote a brief interval or gap in time or activity. The term often implies a slide from a standard or rule, followed by a return to normal or improved performance. 2-4 sentences, 50-80 words max.
- Misplacing the tongue position for /æ/; try starting with a relaxed jaw to achieve a short, crisp vowel. - Slurring the /p/ into the /s/ resulting in /læpz/ rather than /læps/. Keep the stop release and the following /s/ separate. - Adding an extra vowel before /s/ (e.g., /læ-əps/).
"There was a brief lapse in concentration during the lecture, which led to a missed detail."
"Even the best athletes can experience a lapse in form after an injury."
"Her memory lapse caused her to forget the appointment."
You pronounce lapse as /læps/ in General American and /lɑːps/ in many UK contexts, with primary stress on the single syllable. The lips start rounded slightly for the initial /l/ and /æ/ is a low-front vowel; the final /p/ is a voiceless stop with a brief, clean closure before the /s/. In Australian English you’ll typically hear /læps/ as well, with a slightly tighter tongue position for the vowel. IPA guidance: US /læps/, UK /lɑːps/, AU /læps/.
Common errors include treating /æ/ as a longer sound like /æː/ in British pronunciation, producing a voiced /z/ or /v/ instead of /s/ at the end, and adding an extra syllable by misplacing a schwa. To correct: keep a short, lax /æ/ for the vowel, maintain a crisp voiceless /p/ followed immediately by /s/, and finish with a clean alveolar /s/. Practice words: “laps,” “claps.”
In US English, lapse is typically /læps/, with a short /a/ as in cat and a hard /p/ + /s/. In many UK varieties, you may hear /lɑːps/ or /læps/ depending on region, but non-rhotic accents still pronounce the final /s/ clearly; some speakers may lengthen the vowel a bit in careful speech. Australian English tends toward /læps/ or /læsps/ depending on speaker, but generally maintains a short /æ/. IPA values: US /læps/, UK /lɑːps/ or /læps/, AU /læps/.
Two main challenges: achieving the quick transition from the vowel to /p/ and then a crisp /s/ without voicing. The cluster /ps/ can be tricky because the /p/ is a voiceless stop and the /s/ following it creates a brief, abrupt closure. Also, the vowel quality varies by accent; in some UK dialects a longer /ɑː/ can alter timing. Focus on a short lax vowel, quick release of /p/ into /s/ to avoid an added epenthetic vowel.
A unique, search-ready query is: Does ‘lapse’ ever carry a silent letter? No. The word is always pronounced with a fully audible final /s/. There is no silent letter in standard pronunciations. In careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp boundary between /p/ and /s/. IPA: US /læps/, UK /lɑːps/ or /læps/ depending on region. This clarifies common confusion around similar words with silent endings.
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- US: /læps/ with a pure /æ/ and no vowel lengthening; keep flapped or aspirated consonants from creeping in. - UK: /lɑːps/ or /læps/; some speakers may lengthen the vowel; ensure clear /p/ release and crisp /s/ at the end. - AU: /læps/ or /læsps/, often with a relaxed vowel; maintain dental-alveolar clarity and avoid intrusive vowels. IPA notes: US /læps/, UK /lɑːps/ or /læps/, AU /læps/.
Lapse comes from the Latin lapsus, past participle of labi, meaning to glide or slip. In English, it entered Middle English from Old French lapse, with senses extending from a “sliding” or “slipping” action to include a temporary failure, breach, or interval. The core idea centers on movement away from a standard, rule, or expectation, followed by a return or correction. Early uses in the 14th–15th centuries described physical slipping or falling away, then later abstract senses like memory lapses or lapses in judgment became common in legal, medical, and everyday language. Over time, the noun and verb forms diverged in usage, with “lapse” more frequently appearing in formal contexts (e.g., security, policy) and “lapse” in verb form often paired with progress, attention, or memory. The word’s adaptability across domains—from law (a lapse in compliance) to psychology (memory lapse)—reflects its flexible root meaning of slipping away from a standard or state, before a corrective action or rebound can occur.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lapse" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "lapse" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "lapse"
-aps sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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