slap
/slæp/noun, verb, adverb, adjective
slap is spelled S-L-A-P: 4 letters and one syllable. It appears 9.3 times per million words in written English, the 7,445th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, slap means “A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of slap is slaps.
How many letters and syllables are in slap?
| Letters | 4: S-L-A-P |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 9.3 times per million words; the 7,445th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
| Same letters |
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 slap?
Slap appears 9.3 times per million words in written English, the 7,445th 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 slap?
- /slæp/
Slap 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-ca-slap.oga, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-slap.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
What rhymes with slap?
No other word on PlainSpell ends in the same sounds as slap.
Spelled with the same letters in another order: salp.
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 slap
- slaps plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- slapping participle, present
- slapped participle, past
- more slap comparative
- most slap superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does slap mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A blow, especially one given with the open hand, or with something broad and flat.
He gave me a friendly slap on the back as a sign of camaraderie.
- 2
A sharp percussive sound like that produced by such a blow.
the slap of my feet on the bathroom tiles
- 3
The percussive sound produced in slap bass playing.
- 4
slangMakeup; cosmetics.
If you had too much slap on when you went out . . . your mates say too much slap on your ecaf. Yeah. Oh really girl? Yes . . . Go in the lavs here and have a look.
- 5
slangAn eye-catching sticker used in street art.
verb
- 1
To strike someone, typically with an open hand, often on the face.
She slapped him in response to the insult.
- 2
To cause something to strike soundly.
He slapped the reins against the horse's back.
- 3
To strike soundly against something.
The rain slapped against the window-panes.
- 4
slangTo be excellent, especially when relating to music.
The band's new single slaps.
- 5
To place, to put carelessly.
We'd better slap some fresh paint on that wall.
- 6
informalTo impose a penalty, etc. on (someone).
I was slapped with a parking fine.
- 7
informalTo play slap bass on (an instrument).
adverb
- 1
Exactly, precisely
He tossed the file down slap in the middle of the table.
adjective
- 1
UKslangVery good, excellent, amazing.
These cookies are slap.
noun
- 1
Acronym of superior labrum from anterior to posterior.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Slap in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | claque, fessée, gifle , gifler, fesser |
| German | Klaps, Schlag , klatschen, (leicht) schlagen , Makeup, Schminke |
| Portuguese | palmada, estalo, tapa, bofetada, chapada, tabefe |
| Spanish | bofetada, cachetada, guantada, bofetón, guantazo, bife |
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 slap come from?
From Middle English slappen, of uncertain origin, possibly imitative. Compare Low German Slappe (“slap”), whence also German Schlappe (“defeat”). Compare also Italian sleppa (“slap”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).