gasp
/ɡɑːsp/verb, noun, interjection
gasp is spelled G-A-S-P: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 2.8 times per million words in written English, the 16,005th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, gasp means “To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in gasp?
| Letters | 4: G-A-S-P |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 2.8 times per million words; the 16,005th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Rhymes with |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media); rhymes and same-letter words are computed by PlainSpell from its own word list.
How common is gasp?
Gasp appears 2.8 times per million words in written English, the 16,005th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce gasp?
- UK /ɡɑːsp/
- UK /ɡæsp/
- /ɡasp/
Gasp has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-gasp.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with gasp?
2 words on PlainSpell end in the same sounds as gasp from its last stressed vowel (/ɑsp/, British pronunciation):
Computed by PlainSpell from the pronunciations in the English Wiktionary (dump of September 2, 2026): a rhyme shares every sound from the last stressed vowel to the end; ordered by written frequency (wordfreq 3.1).
Forms of gasp
- gasps present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- gasping participle, present
- gasped participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does gasp mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To draw in the breath suddenly, as if from a shock.
The audience gasped as the magician disappeared.
- 2
To breathe quickly or in a labored manner, as after exertion; to respire with heaving of the breast; to pant.
We were all gasping when we reached the summit.
- 3
To speak in a breathless manner.
The old man gasped his last few words.
- 4
To pant with eagerness or excitement; to show vehement desire.
I'm gasping for a cup of tea.
noun
- 1
A short, sudden intake of breath.
The audience gave a gasp of astonishment
- 2
UKslangA draw or drag on a cigarette (or gasper).
I'm popping out for a gasp.
interjection
- 1
The sound of a gasp.
Gasp! What will happen next?
adjective
- 1
Acronym of globalist, academic, secular, and progressive.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Gasp in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | retenir son souffle, haleter , ahaner , halètement |
| German | keuchen , japsen, prusten , Atemzug, Luftholen, Schnaufen |
| Portuguese | suspirar , ofegar, arquejar , tragada |
| Spanish | ahogar un grito, afogar un grito, boquear, respirar con dificultad , jadear , bocanada |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does gasp come from?
From Middle English gaspen, gayspen (“to gape, outbreathe”), related to and likely derived from Old Norse geispa (“to yawn”) or its descendant Danish gispe, which may be related to gapa (“to gape”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).