One syllable: hemp.
hemp
/hɛmp/
hemp is pronounced hemp (/hɛmp/). It has one syllable (hemp), with the stress on "hemp". Hemp is a tall, fibrous plant grown for its durable bast fibers and seeds used in textiles and foods. In everyday speech, the word refers to the plant itself or to products derived from it. The term is short and monosyllabic, typically pronounced with a simple, crisp /h/ onset and a long /ɛm p/ nucleus, though careful speakers may shorten vowels slightly in rapid speech.
Hemp is a tall, fibrous plant grown for its durable bast fibers and seeds used in textiles and foods. In everyday speech, the word refers to the plant itself or to products derived from it. The term is short and monosyllabic, typically pronounced with a simple, crisp /h/ onset and a long /ɛm p/ nucleus, though careful speakers may shorten vowels slightly in rapid speech.
"The farmer grows hemp to harvest fiber for rope and textiles."
"Hemp seeds are a popular health snack and oil source."
"Some fabrics are made from hemp fiber because it’s strong and eco-friendly."
Pronounce hemp with an initial /h/ glide, then the short /e/ as in 'bed' but shorter, and finish with /mp/ where the /m/ is clearly produced before a light, almost unreleased /p/. IPA: US/UK/AU /hɛm p/ or simply /hɛm(p)/ in fast speech. Stress is on the monosyllable. Mouth: lips gently closed for /m/, then a quick open for /e/, tongue high-mid and relaxed, finalize with a light bilabial stop. In careful speech you’ll hear a crisp end; in casual speech the final /p/ may be unreleased.
Common errors: replacing /h/ with no audible breath; misplacing the /e/ as a long vowel; or voicing the final /p/ too strongly. Correction: ensure a short, crisp /h/ and a clear /ɛ/ vowel, as in 'bed' but shorter; finish with a light, unreleased /p/. Practise by saying 'hem' then add a soft /p/ to avoid a harsh stop. Focus on keeping the lips soft for /m/ until the /p/ is released mildly.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /h/ is consistent; the vowel is a short /ɛ/ across all. Diphthongization is minimal here; the main difference is the rhythm and voicing of the final /p/. In some UK or AU rapid speech, the /p/ may be lightly released or almost omitted in casual talk, while American speech may keep a slightly crisper release. Overall, the core sound /hɛm p/ remains stable, with small timing differences.
The difficulty comes from the abrupt, short vowel and the final bilabial stop that may feel rushed in fast speech. The /m/ immediately before /p/ requires precise lip-seal transition, and in some dialects the /p/ release is very subtle. Speakers often tense the jaw or over-articulate the consonants. A calm, controlled mouth shape on /ɛm/ and a light, timed /p/ release helps stabilize the pronunciation.
Because hemp is monosyllabic, you focus on a clean CV structure: /h/ onset, /ɛ/ as in 'bed' but shorter, and a closed /m/ followed by a delicate /p/. A hemp-specific nuance is avoiding a lingering vowel or added schwa; speakers should keep it tight and quick. Auditory cues include the soft lip closure between /m/ and /p/ and the absence of any vowel between them.
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The word hemp derives from Old English hemp or heop, related to similar Germanic terms in Dutch henne and German Hanf. The primary sense is tied to the plant used for fiber and oil. Proto-Germanic root *hammaz- or *ham-. The term appears in English by at least the early medieval period, with references to hemp as a textile material and medicinal or agricultural context. Over centuries, the meaning diverged into domains: plant itself, its bast fibers used for rope and sailcloth, and the seeds used for nutritional oil. In modern English, 'hemp' remains centered on the non-psychoactive Cannabis sativa cultivar utilized for industrial products. The evolution reflects the plant’s functional versatility and its legal/regulatory significance shaping discourse around agricultural crops and controlled substances. First known written attestations appear in medieval glossaries and agricultural treatises, with broader usage expanding in the 16th–19th centuries as global trade necessitated standardized terms for fibers and seeds. The term’s stability in modern usage underscores its industrial role rather than ornamental or medicinal connotations distinct from other cannabis-derived terms.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hemp" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hemp" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hemp"
-imp sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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