Crepe is a word with several related meanings. It can refer to a very thin pancake, a crinkledwrinkled or made with small folds and uneven lines fabric, decoratedmade more attractive with added design or ornament textured paper, or the verb for coveringputting a layer over something so it is hidden or protected something with crape. The most common everyday meaning is the pancake.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /kreɪp/
Easy pronunciation: KRAYP (approximate spelling).
Stress: One syllable, with the vowel like in "crate."
This is the noun meaning a small very thin pancake.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Crepe Meaning
a thin French-style pancake
Part of speech: noun
Definition: small very thin pancake
Example: We stopped for crepes and coffee after lunch.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crape — An alternate spelling, though less common in modern English.
- french pancake — A descriptive equivalent, not a true one-word substitute.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Crepe
Meaning 2
a thin fabric with a slightly wrinkled texture
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a soft thin light fabric with a crinkled surface
Example: She wore a dress made from black crepe.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crape — Alternate spelling used for the fabric sense.
Meaning 3
wrinkled decorative paper
Part of speech: noun
Definition: paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations
Example: The classroom walls were decorated with bright crepe paper.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crepe paper — The standard term for this paper.
Meaning 4
to cover something with crape
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cover or drape with crape
Example: The building was creped for the memorial service.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- crape — Alternate spelling for the verb.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Crepe Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- crape
soft thin light fabric with a crinkled surface
- crape
paper with a crinkled texture used for decorations
- crepe paper
cover or drape with crape
- crape
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes mix up crepe the pancake with crepe paper, but they are completely different things.
- Crepe as fabric is not the same as crepe as food, even though the spellings are similar.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does crepe mean?
Crepe can mean a very thin pancake, a crinkled fabric, decorative textured paper, or the verb meaning to cover something with crape. The most common meaning is the pancake.
What are crepe synonyms?
The main synonym listed for crepe is crape. For the pancake sense, french pancake is a descriptive equivalent, and for the paper sense, crepe paper is the usual term.
Is crepe the same as crape?
In many contexts, yes. Crape is an alternate spelling used for some crepe senses, especially the fabric and verb forms.
Does crepe mean fabric or food?
It can mean both. The intended meaning depends on context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.