Learn How to Pronounce sleep

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sleep

Definition:

(nou) a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended (nou) a torpid state resembling deep sleep (nou) a period of time spent sleeping (nou) euphemisms for death (based on an analogy between lying in a bed and in a tomb)

Phonetic Transcription:

sliːp

Examples:

That night, they hesitantly sleep in the same bed.

They had nothing to do but to sleep at night.

The rest of the 4 hours is sleep.

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How to perfect your pronunciation of: sleep

Learn Individual Sounds

Break sleep down into individual sounds such as sliːp. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

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Common mistakes of sleep pronunciation

  1. Misplacing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "sleep" with a short vowel sound, like in "slip" [slɪp]. This changes the meaning. Tip: Focus on the long "ee" sound [iː] in "sleep".
  2. Ignoring the final consonant: A common mistake is omitting the "p" sound at the end, making it sound like "slee". This can confuse listeners. Tip: Ensure you clearly pronounce the final "p" [p].
  3. Incorrect stress placement: Some may mistakenly stress the second syllable, saying "slee-p". "Sleep" is a single-syllable word with primary stress on the first syllable. Tip: Emphasize the whole word as one unit: [sliːp].
  4. Overemphasizing the "s": Learners might pronounce "sleep" with an exaggerated "s" sound, making it sound like "ssleep". This can sound unnatural. Tip: Keep the "s" soft and steady, not prolonged.
  5. Confusing with similar words: Some confuse "sleep" with "slip" or "leap", leading to miscommunication. Each word has distinct vowel sounds. Tip: Practice each word separately to master their unique pronunciations.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "sleep" in American English?

In American English, "sleep" is pronounced as /sliːp/. The vowel sound is a long "ee" as in "see," and the "s" is pronounced clearly at the beginning.

Is there a difference in pronunciation of "sleep" between British and American English?

No, the pronunciation of "sleep" is the same in both British and American English, pronounced as /sliːp/. Both variants emphasize the long "ee" sound.

What is the syllable structure of the word "sleep"?

The word "sleep" has one syllable. It is a simple, monosyllabic word with a clear vowel sound.

Are there any common mistakes people make when pronouncing "sleep"?

Some learners might confuse "sleep" with "slip," which is pronounced /slɪp/. The key difference is in the vowel sound: "sleep" has a long "ee," while "slip" has a short "i."
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