# How do you pronounce 'envelope'? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2020, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730 "2020-10-11T18:47:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/41 "2020-10-12T17:58:40Z")
Ahnvelope people always seem to be the same ones who say miss-chee-vee-us for mischievous. Of course, that pronunciation of mischievous is just wrong according to all dictionaries. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/42 "2020-10-12T19:27:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It rhymes with “Penelope”, of course. Maybe that’s why I always pronounce ‘Caliope’ as _Kally-ope_. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/43 "2020-10-12T19:52:07Z")
There are [several “heat maps”](https://www.businessinsider.com/22-maps-that-show-the-deepest-linguistic-conflicts-in-america-2013-6) that depict pronunciation and vernacular across the US (seriously, in parts of the south, rain and sun together is “the devil is beating his wife” ?) but there does not seem to be one for “envelope” (nor one for “skyedjewel”). ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/44 "2020-10-12T20:43:26Z")
N-velope, not On-velope. Born, raised, educated in central Midwest, where we do it right. Eat your 💙out. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/45 "2020-10-12T21:02:53Z")
EN velope. I would not say ON velope. If the mountain tops were enveloped by clouds, I would not say that they are onveloped by clouds. It is the same meaning for a slightly different word; to wrap, cover, or surround. That is what an envelope does, that is what the clouds are doing to the mountain tops. Onvelope is just too pretentious. And wrong. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/46 "2020-10-12T21:12:32Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > If the mountain tops were enveloped by clouds, I would not say that they are onveloped by clouds. It is the same meaning for a slightly different word; to wrap, cover, or surround. But envelop is a verb. That changes the stressed syllable and affects the pronunciation of the first syllable, as I posted earlier. How do you pronounce encore, entree, entourage, entrepreneur, ensemble? And do you say UH-tribute instead of AT-tribute because you uh-TRIB-bute the same pronunciation to both noun and verb forms? Saying EN-velope isn’t wrong, it’s just different. Same for AHN-velope. Neither is more correct. But using the pronunciation of envelop to try to prove something doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/47 "2020-10-12T21:56:20Z")
I think I say it both ways, perhaps depending on my audience? There may be times I don’t want to sound too posh. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/48 "2020-10-12T22:09:52Z")
En-VEL-o-pee. Catchy, isn’t it? 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/49 "2020-10-12T22:18:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > En-VEL-o-pee. In which you can place an invitation to Penelope, to go out on a date and listen to a calliope. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2020, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/50 "2020-10-12T22:22:07Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In which you can place an invitation to Penelope, to go out on a date and listen to a calliope. Not bad-now make it into a limerick. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2020, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/51 "2020-10-13T21:37:27Z")
I’m in western Canada of Swedish/Scottish ancestry and say “ENvolope” but those of Ukrainian ancestry commonly say “AHNvelope”. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/52 "2020-10-14T03:34:40Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > @bobot and others who raised the same issue: lots of identical or closely related words change pronunciation and stressed syllable following the same pattern when the meaning shifts from noun to verb – sometimes including a shift in the first syllable’s vowel sound as it goes from stresses to unstressed. So, of course envelop is pronounced differently. It doesn’t really say anything about how envelope “should” be pronounced. > > Will the competitor contest the results of the contest? One attribute he has that he can attribute to his upbringing . . . > > Here are [some more](https://www.businessenglishresources.com/learn-english-for-business/teachers-section/mini-lessons/pronunciation-lessons-pronunciation-changes-in-words-that-are-both-nouns-and-verbs/). They’re quite common in English. Another one is “live”: “I live well” - short i “He’s a live wire” - long i And my favourite, where capitalising a word changes its pronunciation: “Please polish the silverware.” " The Polish ambassador presented her credentials. " ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/53 "2020-10-14T12:19:25Z")
Chicago here. I believe the “EN” pronunciation is the one I use most naturally. But the “ON” one also sounds natural to me. It’s kind of like “coupon.” Sometimes I will insert that “y” there and say “KYU-pon,” sometimes I will drop it and say “COO-pon.” ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/54 "2020-10-16T00:52:28Z")
It depends on what state I’m in. So yeah, I code switch. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/55 "2020-10-16T17:45:01Z")
EN. I’ve also heard amongst older folks back in the day the pronunciation "EN-vellup,’ with the consonant ‘n’ slightly extended. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/56 "2020-10-17T02:01:11Z")
Are you vacationing away from your husband, The Dean? Hard ‘On’ is how I give it. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2020, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/57 "2020-10-17T16:41:32Z")
Maybe it’s like people who call their dad’s sister their “ont” vs their “ant”. I say “Enn-velope”, but I do think that “Onn-velope” sounds classier. Is it a French word like Encore? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2020, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/58 "2020-10-17T16:45:11Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Is it a French word like Encore? It appears so. > **[envelope | Etymology of envelope by etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/envelope)** > > "a wrapper, an enclosing cover," specifically a prepared wrapper for a letter or other… See origin and meaning of envelope. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/59 "2020-10-17T16:50:47Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Are you vacationing away from your husband, The Dean? > > Hard ‘On’ is how I give it. Hard onvelope? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730/60 "2020-10-19T18:38:09Z")
In parts of southern and southwestern Virginia, it’s pronounced “aboat”. Me: ENvelope (and for the verb: envELLup"). Raised in central PA, but largely got rid of the Central PA accent (e.g. our nation’s capital is not Warshington) due to chorus, studying several foreign languages, and living in NC for 12 years. Related question: Is your father’s sister your “ant” or your “ahnt”? FWIW: “ahnvelope” just sounds like a variation (and yeah, I know it’s closer to the original French word). “ahnt” has always sounded a bit jarring even if it’s a lot closer to how it’s spelled. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-pronounce-envelope/922730.md?page=4)