Apps (short for applications) refers to small software programs designed for a specific function, typically run on mobile devices or desktops. In everyday use, “apps” is plural, informal, and common in tech contexts. It can also appear as a general term for executable programs on devices, often in marketing, tech journalism, and user guides.
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Common pronunciation challenges for apps include: • Final consonant cluster /ps/: Beginners often drop the /s/ or articulate the /p/ as fully released before the /s/. Practice with minimal pairs like /æps/ vs /æppz/ (with extra voice) and use a quick, unreleased /p/ into /s/. • Vowel quality /æ/: Some speakers reduce the vowel to a more centralized sound or lengthen it; aim for the short lax /æ/ as in cat, not a rounded or breathy vowel. • Linking and pace: In natural speech, apps often plugs into phrases like 'apps store' or 'apps are', so the final /s/ may blend into the next word. Practice with phrase-level drills to keep the final /s/ audible without creating a syllable boundary.
US: /æps/ with non-rhoticity minimal; keep /æ/ open, /p/ short, /s/ crisp. UK: some speakers may have a slightly longer /æ/ and crisper /s/; ensure non-rhotic, with light lip rounding on some dialects. AU: similar to US; watch for vowel height differences where /æ/ may be slightly more centralized; keep a tight articulation for /ps/ cluster. Reference IPA: US /æps/, UK /æps/, AU /æps/.
"I downloaded a suite of helpful productivity apps for my phone."
"The latest apps update improves battery life and performance."
"Developers are building more secure apps to protect user data."
"We looked at five weather apps before choosing one for our trip."
Apps is a clipped form of Applications, originating in English in the early computer era. The word application itself derives from the Latin root applicare ‘to join, unite’, but the modern sense of a software application emerged in the late 20th century with the rise of personal computing. As software became more specialized and user-friendly, marketers and developers began referring to individual programs as “apps” for brevity. The term gained tremendous popularity with the advent of mobile computing in the 2000s, when smartphones enabled quick access to mini-programs. In dictionaries, apps is treated as a plural noun/colloquial shorthand; the singular is app, used both in formal and informal contexts, though less common in spoken language than the plural Apps. First known usage as “apps” in popular media appears around the late 1990s to early 2000s in tech journalism, and by the mid-2000s it had become a standard consumer term. The transition from distant, enterprise software to ubiquitous consumer apps parallels trends in UX design, app stores, and cross-platform ecosystems, cementing apps as a core vocabulary item in digital life.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "apps" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "apps" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "apps" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "apps"
-aps sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
You say /æps/ with the short, lax A as in cat, followed by a voiceless bilabial stop /p/ and final /s/. The tongue is relaxed, the lips neutral to lightly rounded, and the jaw opens slightly at the vowel. In fast speech you may hear a quick, almost unreleased /p/ before the /s/. Audio reference: listen to native pronunciations in dictionaries like Cambridge or Oxford.
Common errors include pronouncing it as /æp/ without the final /s/, giving an aspirated /p/ such as /æphs/, or adding a vowel after the /p/ like /æɡps/. To correct, ensure a crisp /p/ immediately followed by /s/ with no extra vowel sound between consonants, and keep the /æ/ short and lax. Practice saying the cluster in tighter air flow and end with a clean /s/ friction.
In US and UK, /æps/ is common, with rhotic influence minimal, but in some UK dialects you may hear a slightly longer vowel or tighter final s. Australian English tends to be similar to American but with subtle vowel height differences; you may notice a marginally higher tongue position for /æ/ and crisp /s/. Overall, the core is /æ/ + /p/ + /s/ across accents.
The challenge lies in the tight consonant cluster /ps/ at the end, which can sound like a single blob to non-native speakers. The /p/ must be unreleased before the /s/ and not turn into /pɪs/ or /ps/. The short /æ/ also requires a quick, relaxed jaw to avoid a tense, prolonged vowel that alters the perceived meaning.
Apps is a one-syllable word with no stress shift, but it’s common in fast speech to clip vowels and link to following words. Maintain the pure /æ/ vowel, and avoid tensing the jaw. In phrases like 'apps store' the rhythm matters: pace the /æ/ slightly longer than in isolation but keep the /s/ crisp to avoid trailing into the next word.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "apps"!
- Shadowing: Listen to native speech reading sentences with 'apps' and imitate in real-time, focusing on the /æ/ and /ps/ closure. - Minimal pairs: /æps/ vs /æp/ (without /s/), /æps/ vs /æpsɪz/ (adding -iz sound). - Rhythm practice: Practice word-stress timing with phrases like 'mobile apps', 'apps store', 'apps for', ensuring 1-syllable word fits into the rhythm. - Stress and intonation: Even though one syllable, practice neutral tone in isolation, fall-intonation in phrases. - Recording: Record yourself reading sentences and compare to native samples; pay attention to the unreleased /p/ and crisp /s/.
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