The word "envelope" is commonly used in English to refer to a flat paper container for letters or documents.
However, many learners are confused about its correct pronunciation.
Note: Despite the spelling starting with "en", in British English it's often pronounced with an /ɒ/ sound (like "on"),
while American English typically uses /ɛ/ (like "en" in "enter").
Listen to the pronunciation:
Tips for Learners
Don’t be misled by the French origin—English pronunciation has evolved differently.
In casual American speech, you’ll almost always hear "EN-vuh-lope".
In the UK, both /ˈɒn.və.ləʊp/ and /ˈɛn.və.ləʊp/ exist, but the "ON" version is more traditional.
Stress is always on the first syllable.
Common Mistakes
Some people mistakenly say "en-VEE-ope" (influenced by the misspelling "enveiope"). Remember: it’s three syllables,
and the second syllable is very soft ("vuh").