jap
/d͡ʒæp/verb
jap is spelled J-A-P: 3 letters and one syllable. It appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,270th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, jap means “To carry out a sneak attack upon (something or somebody)” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in jap?
| Letters | 3: J-A-P |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | about once in every 1 million words; the 29,270th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
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).
How common is jap?
Jap appears about once in every 1 million words in written English, the 29,270th 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 jap?
- /d͡ʒæp/
Jap 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: En-au-Jap.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-jap.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of jap
- japs present, singular, he/she/it
- japping participle, present
- japped participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does jap mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
CanadaUSslangTo carry out a sneak attack upon (something or somebody).
- 2
Scotland(of a liquid) To spatter or splash over a surface.
noun
- 1
USderogatoryA Japanese person.
- 2
derogatoryAn Imperial Japanese Army soldier.
adjective
- 1
derogatoryJapanese; of or pertaining to Japan or its people.
verb
- 1
Alternative letter-case form of jap.
noun
- 1
Initialism of Jewish-American/Jewish-Australian princess: overly materialistic and selfish young Jewish American or Australian woman.
- 2
Initialism of Jewish-American/Jewish-Australian prince: overly materialistic and selfish young Jewish American or Australian man.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Jap in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense offensive term for a Japanese person:
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 jap come from?
Shortening of Japanese, in reference to the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).