One syllable: hips.
/hɪps/
Say it backHips refers to the plural of hip, the joint-valued region where the thigh meets the torso, or to the pelvis area collectively. In everyday speech it can denote movement (hips swaying) or clothing (hip-hugging pants). As a word, its short, clipped pronunciation emphasizes a simple /h/ onset and a single stressed syllable, making it agile in rapid speech.
"She swayed her hips to the music."
"The jeans sit tight at the hips."
"He felt the ache in his hips after the run."
Pronounce it as /hɪps/. Start with a light aspirated /h/, then a short /ɪ/ as in 'sit', followed by a crisp /p/ release and a final /s/. The /p/ is unreleased in casual speech but should be audible in careful speech. The overall duration is very short, so aim for a quick, clean syllable without vowel lengthening. Practice saying ‘h’ + ‘ips’ together in rapid motion to lock in the cluster.
Common errors include: (1) Lengthening the vowel, making it sound like /hiːps/ or /hɪɪps/. (2) Dropping the /p/ in the final cluster, producing /hɪs/ or /hɪps/ with a weak stop. (3) Over-emphasizing the /s/ after a released /p/, giving /hɪp s/ with a break. To correct, keep the /ɪ/ short, release the /p/ crisply, and immediately move to the /s/ without extra vowel or glide. Use a quick, tight tongue contact for /p/ and a smooth transition to the /s/.
In US/UK/AU, the core /hɪps/ is similar, but rhoticity can subtly affect surrounding sounds in connected speech. US tends to have a tighter /ɪ/ in rapid speech; UK may show a slightly tenser vowel with less vowel reduction in casual tempo; AU often exhibits a bright, clipped /ɪ/ and a stronger final /s/ sibilance. The main differentiation is intonation around the word rather than the phoneme itself; the /h/ onset and /ps/ coda remain broadly intact across all three, with minor vowel quality shifts.
The difficulty lies in the final /ps/ cluster where the p-release precedes a sibilant; many learners either delete the /p/ or merge the stops, producing /hɪs/. Also, preserving the short lax /ɪ/ without reducing or lengthening in fast speech can be tricky. The word also hinges on crisp, breath-supported /h/ initiation; without strong breath control, the onset can blur into a light vowel. Focus on tight lip closure for /p/ and a clean transition to /s/.
A word-specific issue is preserving the audible /p/ release before the /s/ in connected speech. Speakers sometimes assimilate /p/ with the following /s/, creating /hɪs/ or /hɪpss/. The fix is to emphasize the brief, explosive /p/ without delaying the /s/: a rapid p-release followed immediately by a hissy /s/ with the tongue close to the alveolar ridge. This keeps the coda crisp and distinct.
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Hip originates from Old English hamp, meaning the flank or side of the body, related to the Proto-Germanic hampą. Over time, Middle English adopted hip to refer specifically to the joint region. The plural hips appears in contexts describing multiple joints or the pelvic region, expanding to metaphorical uses like ‘from the hips’ indicating vivid movement. In many languages, the term reflects a core body region rather than a specific bone; in English it carries both anatomical and figurative meanings (as in “hips and curves” or “hips” of clothing). The modern form solidified by 16th–18th centuries as anatomy and fashion discourse grew, with hip-related phrases entering common idiom. First known written usage is attested in medical and anatomical texts of the late medieval to early modern period, then proliferating in everyday speech as dance, fashion, and movement lexicon expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries. The term remains highly productive in phrases like “hips of pants,” “hip replacement,” and “hip-shots” in colloquial speech, reflecting its versatility and enduring presence in English.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hips" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hips" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hips"
-ips sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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