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"Envelop" (no final E) = to wrap or surround completely; "envelope" (with final E) = the paper container for letters.
Side-by-side comparison
"Envelop" (no final 'e') is the verb: it means to wrap around or completely surround something. The stress falls on the second syllable: en-VE-lop.
A thick blanket of fog enveloped the harbor, making navigation nearly impossible.
The warmth of the fireplace seemed to envelop everyone in the room with a sense of comfort.
Flames enveloped the entire third floor before firefighters could reach the building.
"Envelope" (with a final 'e') is the noun: the paper container you put a letter in. The stress falls on the first syllable: EN-ve-lope.
She sealed the envelope with a damp sponge and pressed down the flap carefully.
He found a cream-colored envelope slipped under his office door with no return address.
Please write your address clearly on the envelope so the postal service can deliver it correctly.
Common mistake
- •"Please put the letter in the envelop" is wrong: the mail container has a final E, "envelope".
- •"Envelop" without the final E is the verb meaning to surround or wrap ("the fog enveloped the city").
Trick to remember it
- •"EnvelopE" (noun, with E) = the E at the end reminds you it is a physical object you can hold.
- •"Envelop" (verb, no final E) = the action of wrapping.
- •Different pronunciation: verb = en-VEL-op; noun = EN-ve-lope.
Quick rule
- •"Envelop" (no final E) = verb, to wrap or surround.
- •"Envelope" (final E) = noun, a mail container.
Did you know?
"Push the envelope" means to exceed accepted limits. It comes from 1940s-50s aviation: the "flight envelope" is the range of speed and altitude within which an aircraft can safely operate. "Pushing the envelope" = going toward the edges of that safe zone, testing the limits of what the aircraft can do. Today it is used for any activity that challenges established boundaries, from technology to art to business.
Practise what you learned
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
The fog began to _____ the city, making it almost impossible to see anything.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
She put the letter in an _____ and sealed it before posting it.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Related word pairs
'Loath' is the adjective meaning reluctant or unwilling; 'loathe' is the verb meaning to detest intensely.
'Precede' means to come before something in time or order; 'proceed' means to continue forward or carry on with something.
"Above" is at a higher level without contact; "over" implies covering, movement, or crossing.
'Currently' means 'at the present time'; 'actually' means 'in reality', not 'nowadays'.
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy