2 syllables: chop, ping. Stress on chop.
CHAH-ping
/ˈtʃɑpɪŋ/
chopping is pronounced CHAH-ping (/ˈtʃɑpɪŋ/). It has two syllables (chop-ping), with the stress on "chop". Chopping refers to the action or process of making quick, irregular cuts or strokes with a sharp tool or blade. It can also describe food preparation, where pieces are cut into small, uniform portions, or the act of striking repeatedly in a chopping motion. The term conveys brisk, decisive movement and repetitive impact.
Chopping refers to the action or process of making quick, irregular cuts or strokes with a sharp tool or blade. It can also describe food preparation, where pieces are cut into small, uniform portions, or the act of striking repeatedly in a chopping motion. The term conveys brisk, decisive movement and repetitive impact.
"She was chopping vegetables for the stew, aiming for uniform dice."
"The woodcutter spent the afternoon chopping fallen branches near the trail."
"In the kitchen, you should chop onions finely to prevent tears."
Pronounced /ˈtʃɒpɪŋ/ in US/UK/AU. The stress is on the first syllable: CHOP-ɪŋ. Start with the affricate /tʃ/ as in 'church,' then an open back rounded vowel /ɒ/ (like 'cot'), then a short /ɪ/ for the second syllable, and finish with the velar nasal /ŋ/ (like 'sing'). Keep the final nasal soft and avoid adding extra vowel sounds at the end. You’ll hear a crisp stop after /p/, then the trailing nasal blends quickly into /ɪŋ/. Audio reference: say the word slowly, then in a natural pace, listening for the strong initial burst and the clean /p/ before the /ɪŋ/.
Common errors include pronouncing the initial affricate as a simple /t/ or /d/ plus /ʃ/, giving something like /tʃɒʃɪŋ/ or /ˈtɑːpɪŋ/. Another mistake is lengthening the second vowel to /ɒɪ/ or adding an extra schwa before the final /ɪŋ/. Correct by ensuring /tʃ/ is a single sound produced with the tongue blade just behind the upper teeth, the /ɒ/ is short and open, the /p/ is a strong, unreleased stop, and the /ɪŋ/ is a quick, clipped ending. Practice minimal pairings to keep the /p/ and /ŋ/ distinct.
In US/UK/AU, /ˈtʃɒpɪŋ/ is broadly similar, but vowel quality varies: US often has a slightly tenser /ɒ/ with less rounding, UK often has a more open /ɒ/ as in 'lot,' and AU may have a close-to-fronted quality depending on the speaker. The /r/ is not involved; rhoticity affects only rhotic accents in other words, not this one. The main variation is vowel length and quality: /ɒ/ height and rounding, and sometimes a lightly released /p/ in rapid speech. All share the initial /tʃ/ and final /ŋ/.
The difficulty lies in coordinating the affricate /tʃ/ with a strong /p/ release and a final /ŋ/ without adding extra vowels. Speakers often insert a vowel between /p/ and /ɪŋ/ or mispronounce the /ɒ/ as /ɑː/. Focus on a clean /tʃ/ onset, a short, crisp /ɒ/ vowel, a clearly released /p/, and an immediate /ɪŋ/ without a chew or extra syllable. Keep the mouth from drooping into a lazy /ɒ/ and maintain a tight closure for the /p/.
The unique aspect is the tight sequence: /tʃ/ + /ɒ/ + /p/ + /ɪŋ/. The challenge is managing the /ɒ/ through the /p/ release so you don’t land in a longer vowel before /ɪŋ/. Concentrate on a quick, strong /p/ release and a brisk transition into /ɪŋ/. This creates the crisp, chopping rhythm typical of the word.
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Chopping originates from the Old English word chopian, related to chopping in medieval contexts of striking or cutting with a sharp instrument. The verb sense evolved from a broader Germanic root related to heavy blows or strikes, akin to chopping wood or meat. Over centuries, chopping consolidated into a specific culinary and mechanical action: brief, forceful cuts or strokes, typically with a knife, axe, or tool designed to shear material. The term appears in Middle English texts as choppen, corresponding to the act of striking with a weapon or tool, and by the 17th–18th centuries, it had narrowed to describe deliberate, repeated cutting motions in cooking and carpentry. In modern usage, chopping often implies rhythm, speed, and precision, whether describing a kitchen task (chopping onions) or a workshop activity (chopping metal). First known uses are found in culinary and manual labor contexts, with gradual semantic sharpening toward the familiar two-part action: quick, short motions and resulting small segments or pieces.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "chopping" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "chopping" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "chopping"
-ing sounds
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