One syllable: clips.
/klɪps/
clips is pronounced /klɪps/. It has one syllable (clips), with the stress on "clips". Clips is the third-person singular or plural noun for small metal or plastic fasteners, or verbatim short excerpts (clips) from a recorded source. In everyday usage, it also refers to a brief period of storage or a segment of video. As a word, it’s compact, with a single closed syllable, and ends in a voiceless alveolar stop sound. It’s common in both technical and media contexts.
Say it backClips is the third-person singular or plural noun for small metal or plastic fasteners, or verbatim short excerpts (clips) from a recorded source. In everyday usage, it also refers to a brief period of storage or a segment of video. As a word, it’s compact, with a single closed syllable, and ends in a voiceless alveolar stop sound. It’s common in both technical and media contexts.
- You may lengthen the vowel before the final consonant cluster, turning /ɪ/ into a longer vowel like /iː/. Practice with a strict short /ɪ/ and a quick shut /p/ before the /s/. - You might blur the /l/ into a light-alveolar sound or make it too heavy; aim for a crisp, light /l/ at the alveolar ridge without retroflexing. - The final /ps/ cluster can sound like /p/ + /z/ if you don’t stop completely; ensure a brief stop after /p/ and release into /s/ with a hiss. - In fast speech, learners may reduce the final /s/ or merge it with preceding consonants; keep a small, audible hiss for the /s/ for clarity.
"She wore two metal clips to hold the papers together."
"The video clips from the interview were edited into a short reel."
"Can you fetch the hair clips from the drawer?"
You pronounce it as /klɪps/. The stress is on the single syllable; begin with /kl/ using a light front vowel /ɪ/, then end with /ps/, a voiceless aspirated sibilant blend. Think ‘cl’ plus a quick /ɪ/ vowel, finishing with a sharp /ps/ release. If you use a voice-recording, you’ll hear a clean stop before the /s/. Audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can confirm the /klɪps/ pattern.
Common errors include turning the /l/ into a dark or “ultralight” l, producing a prolonged vowel like /iː/ instead of /ɪ/, and letting the final /ps/ blend into a rough /ps/ without a crisp release. Correct by keeping the vowel short /ɪ/, keeping the tongue at the alveolar ridge for /l/, and ensuring a clean stop before the /s/: /k/ + /l/ + /ɪ/ + /p/ + /s/ with a brief release after /p/.
In US/UK/AU, the onset /kl/ remains similar, but vowel quality and rhoticity affect surrounding sounds. US speakers tend to have a tighter /ɪ/ and clear /l/; UK varieties maintain a shorter, more relaxed /ɪ/ with less diphthongization; AU often slightly broader vowel with subtle vowel reduction in fast speech. The final /ps/ remains a crisp cluster, though tempo and aspiration may vary. Overall, the core /klɪps/ stays intact, with minor vowel duration differences.
The challenge lies in the rapid, tightly articulated consonant cluster /l/ followed immediately by /p/ and /s/. You balance the tongue for /l/ at the alveolar ridge, then snap to the /p/ stop without voicing, and finish with the unvoiced /s/. Any delay or vowel length variation dulls the crispness of the final /ps/ release. Practicing with minimal pairs and a tempo ladder helps lock the sequence.
Your unique angle is the short, unstressed vowel context and the final unvoiced /ps/ cluster. Many learners struggle with the abrupt /p/ release immediately followed by /s/. Focus on a clean alveolar contact for /l/, then a swift but controlled /p/ closure and an immediate /s/. IPA reference: /klɪps/. Practicing with shadowing and go/no-go drills will sharpen this synergy.
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- US: /klɪps/, rhoticity doesn’t affect this word; ensure the vowel is lax and crisp; keep /l/ light and the /p/ released quickly before the /s/. - UK: /klɪps/ with potentially less vowel length in some regional accents; you might hear a slightly shorter vowel and a delicate /l/; maintain clean alveolar placement. - AU: /klɪps/ similar to US but can be slightly more relaxed; focus on steady /ɪ/ and sharp /p/ release; watch for any vowel reduction in rapid speech.
The noun clip traces to the Middle English clipen, meaning to cut or fasten, from Old Norse clipa, with related forms in Old English and Germanic languages associated with fastening or trimming. The modern sense of a small fastening device developed in the 16th–18th centuries as metal and later plastic fasteners became common in clothing, papers, and machinery. The video use—short excerpted portions—emerged in the 20th century: ‘clips’ as segments of film or digitized media, and later as a general term for any short excerpt. The plural form clips extends from the standard English pluralization pattern with -s. First known written uses appear in technical manuals and film-related journals in the 1800s, evolving as technologies like editing, videotape, and digital media matured, leading to the ubiquitous “video clips” phrasing by mid- to late-20th century.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "clips" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "clips" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "clips" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "clips"
-ips 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.
