Many English learners are confused about how to correctly pronounce the word “envelope”. Is it /ˈɛnvələʊp/ or /ˈɒnvələʊp/? Let’s clear up the confusion!
British English (RP): /ˈɛn.və.ləʊp/
American English (GA): /ˈɑːn.və.loʊp/ or /ˈɛn.və.loʊp/
Click the buttons below to hear native pronunciations:
Some people mistakenly say /ˈɒn.və.ləʊp/ (like “onvelope”), influenced by the French origin of the word. However, in modern English, the standard pronunciation starts with an “en-” sound, not “on-”.
Tip: Think of the word “envy” — both start with the /ɛn/ sound.