One syllable: cups.
/ˈkʌps/
Say it backCups is the plural form of cup, referring to SI units of measure or vessels for drinking, typically made of ceramic, metal, or plastic. In everyday use, cups denotes more than one vessel or a portion in cooking and serving contexts. It appears in phrases like “coffee cups” or “tea cups,” and in measurements such as “two cups of flour.” The term is brief, monosyllabic, and commonly occurs with plural -s pronunciation changes.
"She filled three cups with hot cocoa for the kids."
"The kitchen shelves held cups and saucers from different eras."
"We washed the cups after the party and let them air dry."
Pronounce cups as /kʌps/. Start with a short, lax /ɪ/-like vowel in US/UK/AU common practice, rounded to /ʌ/ as in ‘strut.’ The initial /k/ is a strong voiceless stop; end with a voiceless /p/ followed by an /s/ that often assimilates to /z/ in fluent speech, but typically remains /ps/ with a light release on the /p/. The primary stress is on the single syllable. IPA: /kʌps/.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the final cluster to /p/ or /ps/ without release, leading to /kʌp/ or /kʌst/. (2) Using a lax or reduced vowel like /ə/ or /ɪ/; aim for /ʌ/ as in ‘cut.’ (3) Vocalizing the /s/ as a voice-less /s/ after the /p/ without letting the /p/ release; ensure a brief /p/ burst into the /s/. Correct by practicing /kʌps/ with a crisp /p/ release and a clear /s/.
In US, UK, and AU, cups is broadly /kʌps/. The key differences lie in vowel quality: US /ʌ/ often a centralized, lax sound; UK tends toward a slightly higher and tenser /ʌ/; AU similar to US but with a neutralized rhoticity and often softer /r/ in connected speech. The /s/ at the end can be fluttery or hiss-like depending on speed. The rhotic vs non-rhotic matter is minimal here since cups lacks an /r/; the vowel quality and final /s/ realization are the most noticeable cross-accent differences.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /ps/ at the end and the short /ʌ/ vowel, which can be mispronounced as /kɒps/ or /kʊps/ by non-native speakers. The /p/ must be released clearly into a following /s/ to avoid a reduced form like /kʌp/; many learners also blunt the /s/ into a z-like sound. Another challenge is maintaining a relaxed jaw while producing the short /ʌ/ in a single syllable and not lengthening or reducing the vowel.
A unique query for cups could be: 'Is the final -s pronounced as /s/ or /z/?' The answer: in careful speech after a /p/, the final /s/ is typically an /s/ sound that may voice to /z/ in rapid speech depending on the following word; most often you’ll hear a light /s/ release, but in connected speech, the /s/ may be realized varially as /z/ due to voicing assimilation, especially when the next word starts with a voiced consonant or vowel.
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Cup comes from the Old English cuppe, via Late Old English cuppe, with Germanic roots shared across several Germanic languages. The plural cups formed with the regular English plural -s, dating from Middle English as the word shifted from a general vessel name to a countable plural noun in everyday language. The term’s core meaning—an open vessel for drinking—remained stable, but its use broadened to include measurement units (e.g., cooking) and symbolic meanings in literature. Over centuries, cups became standardized in households and kitchens, with the plural form used to indicate multiple vessels. The word’s pronunciation and spelling reflect its Germanic lineage and later assimilation into modern English, with the noun typically stressed on the first syllable and a final s plural suffix that influences the preceding consonant sound in rapid speech.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cups" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "cups" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "cups"
-ups sounds
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