2 syllables: va, pour. Stress on va.
/ˈveɪpər/
vapour is pronounced /ˈveɪpər/. It has two syllables (va-pour), with the stress on "va". Vapour refers to a substance in the gaseous state that originates from a liquid or solid, typically at temperatures below its boiling point. It often describes visible or invisible emissions like steam or mist. In everyday usage, ‘vapor’ (US spelling) and ‘vapour’ (UK/Australian spelling) refer to the same phenomenon. The term is common in science, industry, and everyday speech about heating, fragrances, and atmospheric phenomena.
Say it backVapour refers to a substance in the gaseous state that originates from a liquid or solid, typically at temperatures below its boiling point. It often describes visible or invisible emissions like steam or mist. In everyday usage, ‘vapor’ (US spelling) and ‘vapour’ (UK/Australian spelling) refer to the same phenomenon. The term is common in science, industry, and everyday speech about heating, fragrances, and atmospheric phenomena.
"The kettle released a cloud of vapour as it boiled."
"Industrial plants must filter vapour emissions to reduce air pollution."
"A warm breath on a cold morning creates visible vapour."
In most varieties, you say /ˈveɪ.pər/ (US) or /ˈveɪ.pə/ (UK/AU). Stress on the first syllable; the second is a schwa-like vowel. For US speakers, end with a rhotic /ɹ/ only if you’re linking; otherwise it's a neutral /ɚ/. Mouth: start with a tall, tense vowel /eɪ/ as in 'face', then an unstressed 'p' plus a relaxed central vowel. Audio reference: you can compare with the Cambridge dictionary or youglish sample to hear the non-rhotic UK form vs rhotic US. IPA key: US /ˈveɚ/ beginnings can still be /ˈveɪpəɹ/ in careful speech, but typical is /ˈveɪpər/.
Common errors: 1) Merging /ə/ with a fully pronounced /ɜː/ in non-rhotic accents, giving a stressed second syllable; 2) Substituting an /oʊ/ or /oʊə/ in the second syllable instead of a reduced /ə/; 3) Pronouncing the final /r/ too strongly in non-rhotic British speakers. Correction: keep the second syllable as a weak schwa /ə/ and avoid an explicit /r/ in non-rhotic contexts; in rhotic speech, end with a soft /ɹ/ or vowel. Use minimal pairs to hear /pə/ vs /pər/ in context.
UK/AU: non-rhotic, final /r/ not pronounced; /ə/ as a central vowel; /veɪ/ as in ‘vein’. US: rhotic, final /r/ pronounced; the second syllable often /ɚ/ or /ər/. Vowel quality in UK/AU tends toward a closer /ə/; US tends toward a rounded /ɚ/. IPA reference: UK/AU /ˈveɪpə/; US /ˈveɪpər/. Accent variants also affect linking and flapping patterns in connected speech.
Key challenges: two-syllable word with a reduced second vowel; subtle rhoticity in American speech vs non-rhotic UK/Australian; often mispronounced by speakers who overemphasize the second syllable or misplace the lip rounding for /eɪ/. Focus on shaping the mouth for /eɪ/ first syllable, then a quick move to a relaxed /ə/; practice with minimal pairs and slow practice to stabilize the vowel transition.
The unique feature is the contrast between the stressed /ˈveɪ/ and the reduced /pə/ or /ər/ ending, depending on accent. In non-rhotic varieties, the final /r/ is silent, making /ˈveɪpə/. In rhotic varieties, you add /ɹ/ or a schwa with r-coloring. This requires precise vowel reduction and optional rhoticity, which often confuses learners who apply a full vowel to the second syllable. IPA awareness helps you choose the right ending.
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Vapour comes from the Old French vapour (modern French vapeur), from Latin vapor, vapōris meaning “breath, vapour, steam.” The term traces to Proto-Indo-European *wóh-pós or related roots tied to air and breath, with early senses of visible exhalation. In Middle English, vapour appeared in medical and natural philosophy contexts as scholars described vapours rising from liquids and heated substances. By the 16th–17th centuries, the spelling variant vapour gained traction in British English alongside the American ‘vapor,’ reflecting orthographic divergence post-Norman influence. In modern usage, ‘vapour’ is standard in British Commonwealth countries and in scientific contexts preserving traditional spellings, while ‘vapor’ is preferred in American English. The word’s meaning broadened from a literal exhalation to include any gaseous state emissions, including volatile organic vapours and atmospheric vapour clouds. Contemporary definitions distinguish vapour from liquid droplets via phase state: vapour is gas-phase, often invisible until condensation occurs. First known uses appeared in early modern science writings, with later adoption in meteorology and industrial hygiene literature.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "vapour" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "vapour" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "vapour"
-our sounds
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