One syllable: apes.
ayps
/eɪps/
apes is pronounced ayps (/eɪps/). It has one syllable (apes), with the stress on "apes". Apes is a plural noun referring to primates of the large-bodied group Hominidae, or informally to humans in a derisive sense as “apes.” It also serves as a verb meaning to imitate or resemble something closely. The word focuses on the soundalike pairing of /eɪps/ and includes a plural suffix -s. In most contexts, it is used in neutral or slightly informal registers.
Apes is a plural noun referring to primates of the large-bodied group Hominidae, or informally to humans in a derisive sense as “apes.” It also serves as a verb meaning to imitate or resemble something closely. The word focuses on the soundalike pairing of /eɪps/ and includes a plural suffix -s. In most contexts, it is used in neutral or slightly informal registers.
"The apes at the zoo watched the keeper intently as he fed them bananas."
"Researchers observed how the apes used tools in their forest habitat."
"He aped the way his boss spoke, which earned him a few teasing comments."
You say it as /eɪps/, with a long A vowel followed by a voiceless 'p' and a voiceless 's' to finish. Primary stress is on the single syllable, so it’s a strong, brisk syllable: /eɪps/. Place the tongue high and front for the /eɪ/ diphthong, then close enough to release the /p/ with a quick burst and finish with /s/ noiselessly. Imagine saying ‘ace’ now add a soft final z-like hiss, but keep it unvoiced: /eɪps/.
Common errors include turning the final /s/ into a voiced z sound like /eɪpz/ or overaccenting the /p/ with a heavy aspiration. Another frequent slip is mispronouncing the /eɪ/ as a pure /e/ or /ɛ/; keep the diphthong moving from /e/ to /ɪ/ toward a bit of openness, ending cleanly with /ps/ cluster. Practice by isolating the /eɪ/ first, then add a crisp /p/ release followed immediately by the /s/ without voicing the end.
In US, the /eɪ/ diphthong is typically a mid-to-high rising vowel and the /s/ is clear and voiceless; some speakers may subtly voice the /p/ release. In UK, the /eɪ/ has a slightly longer, tenser quality and the final /s/ is crisp; rhoticity is minimal, but not relevant for this word. In Australian English, /eɪ/ can be more centralized with a slightly retracted tongue and the /s/ can be more hiss-like. Overall, the biggest differences come from the quality of /eɪ/ and the timing of the /p/ release.
The challenge lies in timing the /p/ release with the /s/ without voicing the /s/, so the cluster /ps/ remains unvoiced and tight. Beginners often voice the final /s/ or insert a small vowel between /p/ and /s/. Mastery requires precise closure and immediate unvoiced release—practice with slow repetition, listening for the crisp sibilant, and avoiding any vocalization on the /s/.
A common unique query angle is the exact /eɪ/ diphthong motion and the /ps/ cluster at the end, which can be misheard as ‘ape-s’ with a separate syllable. Emphasize the tight transition from the long A to the quick p-release and hiss of s. If someone searches for ‘how to say apes quickly,’ you’ll highlight the rapid, single-syllable pronunciation: /eɪps/.
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US: /eɪ/ with a slightly higher tongue and a crisp /s/; UK: /eɪ/ marginally longer and more centralized; AU: /eɪ/ slightly widened with a touch more jaw openness. You’ll hear a subtle moisture of the edge through the tip of the tongue on /s/. IPA reminders: /eɪ/ and /ps/; keep final voicelessness.
The noun ape traces to Old English apa, related to Icelandic api and Dutch aap, from Proto-Germanic *apa- and Proto-Indo-European *h₂eǵ- meaning ‘eye’ or ‘face,’ with the sense evolving to mean a “monkey” or “mocking imitator” by late Old English. The modern plural apes likely emerged as a regular plural formation from noun-creating suffix -es in Early Modern English, with -s or -es added to ap(e). In the 19th and 20th centuries, usage expanded: scientists used apes to distinguish more closely related great apes from monkeys; colloquial speech extended the term to describe human imitators or someone who behaves “like an ape.” The evolution reflects both zoological classification and metaphorical use in literature and satire. First known written uses appear in Middle English texts, but the clear zoological sense solidified in scholarly works of the 18th–19th centuries as taxonomy described Pan troglodytes, Pongo, and related species. The word’s social connotations have fluctuated, with pejorative applications in some contexts countered by anthropological framing that emphasizes behavior, not inherent nature. The spelling and pronunciation stabilized in the modern era as /eɪps/ in many dialects, with pluralization following standard English rules for regular nouns.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "apes" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "apes"
-pes sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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