One syllable: clip.
/klɪp/
clip is pronounced /klɪp/. It has one syllable (clip), with the stress on "clip". Clip is a short, fast action or snippet, often used as a noun for a small portion of video or audio, or as a verb meaning to strike quickly or to trim. In everyday speech it also refers to a device part that holds a component in place. The term can describe both a brief excerpt and a fast action, and it’s widely used across media and hardware contexts.
Say it backClip is a short, fast action or snippet, often used as a noun for a small portion of video or audio, or as a verb meaning to strike quickly or to trim. In everyday speech it also refers to a device part that holds a component in place. The term can describe both a brief excerpt and a fast action, and it’s widely used across media and hardware contexts.
"- I cropped the video and cut a 10-second clip."
"- She clipped the papers together with a binder clip."
"- The hunter fired a rapid, clean clip of shots."
Clip is pronounced with a single syllable: /klɪp/ in US, UK, and AU. Start with /k/ as a hard, aspirated sound, then a short /l/ with the tongue at the alveolar ridge, followed by the lax short vowel /ɪ/ as in ‘sit,’ and end with a voiceless /p/. Keep the vowel crisp and the final stop released quickly. IPA: US /klɪp/; UK /klɪp/; AU /klɪp/. Mouth: lips neutral, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge, jaw relatively closed, no vowel lengthening.
Common errors include elongating the vowel into a weak /iː/ as in ‘feel,’ or turning /ɪ/ into /ɛ/ as in ‘bed,’ which makes it sound like ‘cleep’ or ‘clap.’ Another pitfall is adding an extra vowel after /p/ (like clipping the word ‘clip’ into ‘clip‑uh’). To correct: keep the vowel short and tense (/ɪ/), release the final /p/ crisply, and avoid post-consonant schwa unless the word is in connected speech with elision. Practice with a quick, final release and no vowel after the /p/.
In US, UK, and AU accents, /klɪp/ remains broadly similar, but vowel quality and vowel length can vary slightly. US speakers may have a slightly more clipped /ɪ/ and a stronger /p/ release, while UK speakers may display a marginally lighter /l/ and a crisper /p/. Australian speakers often have a slightly more centralized or shortened vowel quality and may exhibit minor reductions in the onset or coda consonants in fast speech. Overall, rhoticity is not a factor for this word; the core feature is the short /ɪ/ and final /p/ release.
The difficulty lies in keeping the short, tense /ɪ/ distinct from nearby vowels in fast speech, and in producing a clean, unreleased final /p/ release that does not bleed into a following sound. Non-native speakers often struggle with the quick release of /p/ and may unintentionally add an extra vowel or avoicing during the final stop. Focus on a crisp, unvoiced /p/ with a swift transition from /ɪ/ to /p/. Focused practice with minimal pairs helps you lock the timing and mouth posture.
Clip has no silent letters in any standard English pronunciation. All letters correspond to sounds: /k/ for c, /l/ for l, /ɪ/ for i, and /p/ for p. In rapid speech, you might hear the /l/ slightly softened or a reduced /ɪ/, but there is no silent letter or omission. If you hear a ghost sound after clip in casual talk, it’s likely a short, clipped schwa due to connected speech, not a true silent letter.
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Clip originates from the Old French couper meaning to cut, ultimately linked to the Latin culpare via the idea of cutting or trimming. The English noun clip emerged in the 18th century to mean a short piece of something, like a film or tape segment, and was later extended to mechanical fasteners and ammunition magazines in the 19th and 20th centuries. The verb form clip, meaning to fasten or to strike with a quick motion, followed suit in common usage as technology evolved—think of a paper clip or a clip used in firearms. By the mid-20th century, clip gained traction in media with “video clip” becoming ubiquitous, and later in digital contexts, “clip” was adopted to describe short segments of audio or video online. The term’s flexibility in contemporary English reflects its core sense of a concise, quick portion or action. First known uses appear in print in the late 1700s to early 1800s, with specialized senses developing in the 19th and 20th centuries as new tools and media were invented.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "clip" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "clip" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "clip" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "clip"
-lip sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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