One syllable: cops.
/ˈkɑps/
Say it backCops is a plural noun meaning police officers. In casual speech, it also functions as a verb meaning to arrest or seize, as in 'the officers cops the suspect' (colloquial and less common). The common usage centers on the police force as a group; in context, it can carry informal or sometimes pejorative connotations depending on tone. The word is short, with a single syllable in standard pronunciation.
- You often add a vowel between /k/ and /p/ (like saying 'ko-ps'); keep them adjacent: /kɑps/. - You release /p/ with too much voicing or a prolonged stop; aim for a quick release into /s/ without an extra vowel. - In rapid speech, you may devoice or reduce the final /s/; keep it crisp and voiceless. - Some learners over-round the /ɒ/ in UK; aim for a shorter, tenser /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region. - Ensure your tongue tip contacts the alveolar ridge briefly for /s/ after /p/.
"The cops arrived just after the call came in."
"A few cops stopped the suspect at the corner."
"Those cops were quick to respond to the disturbance."
Pronounce it as one syllable: /kɑps/ in US and AU before stressed syllable, or /kɒps/ in UK. Start with a held /k/ release into a short open back vowel, then a voiceless /p/ with a quick puff, and finish with a final /s/. The mouth closes briefly for /p/, then releases into /s/. In careful speech, stop the vowel quickly: /k/ + /ɑ(ɒ)/ + /p/ + /s/. IPA: US /kɑps/, UK /kɒps/, AU /kɒps/.
Common mistakes: (1) Turning /p/ into a released /p/ with extra voicing; keep it a short stop: /kɑps/. (2) Adding an extra vowel between /k/ and /p/ (e.g., 'ko-ops'); maintain the tight sequence: /k/ + /ɒ/ or /ɑ/ + /p/. (3) Not releasing the /p/ into /s/; realize the /p/ and /s/ form a quick transition. Correction: practice the /p/ release immediately followed by /s/ without an intervening vowel, as in /kɑps/.
In US and AU, /k/ followed by a short back vowel /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ then /ps/. The /s/ is clear, ending cluster with no vowel between /p/ and /s/. In UK, vowels can be a bit more rounded or clipped, often /kɒps/ with shorter, tenser /ɒ/. Non-rhoticity in some UK varieties does not affect /ps/; the final s remains voiceless. All share the single-syllable structure, but vowel quality and rhoticity influence perceived color.
It's tough because it combines a stop consonant /p/ with a sibilant /s/ in a single, rapid release, creating a busy final cluster /ps/. For non-native speakers, the tricky part is producing the abrupt /p/ release into the fricative /s/ without inserting a vowel. Also, UK vowels may sound different from US vowels, affecting perceived duration. Focus on the tight tongue position for /k/, then a clean, immediate /p/-to-/s/ transition.
A unique aspect is the final /ps/ cluster in many varieties; you pronounce /p/ with a short voiceless burst, then immediately /s/ without voicing, and the vowel of the preceding syllable (even though short) can slightly color the /ɑ/ or /ɒ/. This immediate /p/ to /s/ sequence can be easy to slur in fast speech, so practice slow then speed, ensuring the transition remains crisp.
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- US: rhotic, clear /ɹ/ not relevant here; but do pronounce the preceding vowel as /ɑ/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker; emphasize a slightly lax jaw. - UK: more clipped, vowel shorter; maintain /ɒ/ or /ɒ/ quality with less lip rounding; stress the final /s/. - AU: similar to US but with slightly wider vowel quality and sometimes less tense /ɒ/; maintain the single-syllable rhythm. IPA references: US /kɑps/, UK /kɒps/, AU /kɒps/.
Cops originates as a shortened form of 'copper' or 'cop', an informal American-English term for a police officer dating back to the 19th century. 'Copper' derived from the copper badges historically associated with municipal police. By the early 20th century, 'cop' had become a widely used slang noun for a police officer; the plural 'cops' simply adds the standard plural suffix. The exact etymology of 'cop' is debated, with theories linking it to the verb 'to cop' (to seize or capture) or to an abbreviation of 'concealed officer.' The first known uses appear in American slang around the 1830s–1850s, becoming entrenched in popular culture by mid-20th century. The term has maintained its casual, everyday tone in various dialects, though formal writing typically prefers 'police' or 'police officers.'
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cops" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cops" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cops"
-ops sounds
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