3 syllables: f, t, p. Stress on p.
ef-tee-PEE
/ˌɛˌftiˈpi/
ftp is pronounced ef-tee-PEE (/ˌɛˌftiˈpi/). It has three syllables (f-t-p), with the stress on "p". ftp is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol, used in computing to designate a standard method for transferring files between systems over a network. In everyday tech talk it functions as a shorthand label rather than a spoken word, typically pronounced letter-by-letter or as the initialism in fast, clipped speech. It’s encountered in documentation, command-line interfaces, and network discussions more than in casual conversation.
ftp is an acronym for File Transfer Protocol, used in computing to designate a standard method for transferring files between systems over a network. In everyday tech talk it functions as a shorthand label rather than a spoken word, typically pronounced letter-by-letter or as the initialism in fast, clipped speech. It’s encountered in documentation, command-line interfaces, and network discussions more than in casual conversation.
"I’m configuring two servers via ftp to synchronize data."
"The team uses ftp to upload the weekly backups to the remote storage."
"When you see the URL with ftp://, you’ll know the transfer will happen over FTP."
Say the letters F, T, and P in sequence: /ɛf-ti-pɪ/ in careful speech or /ˌɛfˈtiːˈpiː/ depending on style, but most speakers use the fully articulated form: /ˌɛf-ti-ˈpi/. The emphasis is often on the last letter, giving a light final syllable. Mouth positions: start with the /ɛ/ vowel for F, tip of the tongue near the teeth, then raise the tongue to produce /t/, and finish with /pi/ with rounded lips for /p/. If you’re in command-line contexts, you’ll hear and use each letter distinctly: F, T, P.
Common errors: (1) Slurring into one syllable, producing a vague /f pɪ/ blend; keep F, T, P separate. (2) Dropping vowel sounds, saying /ftp/ with reduced vowels or a single syllable; maintain the three distinct phonemes /ɛf/, /ti/, /pi/. (3) Misplacing the tongue for /t/ and /p/—avoid heavy release blends; keep the /t/ short and the /p/ softly released. Practice articulating each letter and linking them with slight pause.
Across accents, the core letters F, T, P remain similar, but vowel quality and syllable stress shift slightly. US and UK typically render the sequence as /ˌɛf-ti-ˈpi/ with three clear phonemes and a final stressed /pi/. Australian English mirrors UK but with slightly more open front vowels in /ɛ/ and a more clipped final /piː/. In all cases, the letters are distinct rather than fused; rhoticity doesn’t alter the acronym since it’s not a content word, but hope the final /i/ may be a lengthened /iː/ in some Australian speech.
The difficulty lies in maintaining three discrete letter sounds without blending, plus the compactness of an initialism. The /ɛf/ vowel for F can cause a slight mouth opening confusion if you’re used to silent F variants; keeping your jaw relaxed helps. The /ti/ requires a light, alveolar stop with a crisp release, not a glottal stop. Finally, /pi/ needs a clear bilabial plosive with a short vowel, avoiding a trailing hiss. In fast tech talk, you’ll need precise timing to keep the sequence distinguishable.
In typical American, British, and Australian practice, the /t/ in ftp is a short, aspirated or unreleased alveolar stop depending on adjacent sounds. In isolated pronunciation, you’ll use a crisp release, akin to a standard 't' as in 'top' (aspirated with a small puff of air). In rapid speech, the release may be softer, but you should avoid attaching the following /p/ directly without a clear boundary; a light EF-skip between /t/ and /p/ helps clarity.
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FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol, a standard set by the Internet engineering community to facilitate file exchanges across different computer systems. The concept originated from early ARPANET and TCP/IP networking developments in the 1970s and 1980s, when researchers needed a reliable method to move large files between hosts running diverse operating systems. The initial protocol variants emerged from collaborative work at universities and tech companies, evolving through successive RFCs (Request for Comments) that formalized commands, modes, and authentication practices. The term “FTP” became entrenched as the umbrella name for the suite, with core verbs such as RETR, STOR, LIST, and CWD specified in early RFCs (notably RFC 114 and RFC 959 in the 1970s and 1980s). The acronym’s meaning shifted from being a descriptive label to a conventional software concept, while still serving as a shorthand alias in jargon. First known use as a technical acronym appears in early network documentation from the late 1970s to early 1980s, reflecting the broad adoption of TCP/IP and standardized file transfer requirements across Unix, VMS, and other operating systems. Over time, FTP was augmented with security variants (FTPS, SFTP) and alternatives (HTTP-based transfers, cloud APIs), but the canonical term “FTP” remains widely recognized in both legacy and contemporary networking contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ftp" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "ftp"
-rip sounds
-lip sounds
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