One syllable: hoops.
hoops
/hups/
hoops is pronounced hoops (/hups/). It has one syllable (hoops), with the stress on "hoops". Hoops (noun) refers to circular objects, typically rings or hoops used in sports or decoration; in American English it commonly denotes basketball hoops. The word can also describe a type of jewelry or a looping shape. The pronunciation emphasizes a short, rounded vowel followed by a voiceless sibilant final cluster, producing a crisp, compact word suitable for quick speech or exclamations.
Hoops (noun) refers to circular objects, typically rings or hoops used in sports or decoration; in American English it commonly denotes basketball hoops. The word can also describe a type of jewelry or a looping shape. The pronunciation emphasizes a short, rounded vowel followed by a voiceless sibilant final cluster, producing a crisp, compact word suitable for quick speech or exclamations.
"The basketball hoops hang above the court."
"Her hoops swayed with every move she made."
"He wore large golden hoops on his ears."
Pronounce it as /huːps/. Start with a long, rounded /h/ release into /uː/ (like 'who' without the final 'w'), then a voiceless /p/ stop followed immediately by a voiceless /s/ cluster. The stress is on the whole syllable (one-syllable word). Keep the lips rounded for /uː/ and avoid turning it into a short /u/ or a schwa before /ps/. You can reference audio examples on pronunciations sites to hear the /uː/ length and the crisp /ps/ ending.
Common errors include shortening the vowel to a lax /u/ or /ʊ/ (e.g., /hups/), and mispronouncing the final /ps/ as two separate sounds with added vowels (like /pəz/). Another frequent slip is inserting a vowel between /p/ and /s/ (/pəs/). To fix: keep the /uː/ long and rounded, release /p/ crisply, and immediately glide into a voiceless /s/ with no intervening vowel. Practice by saying /huːps/ in one smooth, single beat and avoid voicing the final /s/.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /h/ and the long /uː/ are consistent. The main variation is rhoticity and vowel quality surrounding neighboring words; the word itself maintains /huːps/ across these accents. In non-rhotic British varieties, there may be less linking between /h/ and following consonants, but /huːps/ remains intact. Australian English keeps the /uː/ vowel similarly but might feature slightly more centralized tongue position during articulation. Overall, the core is /huːps/ across all three, with minimal vowel shifting in connected speech.
Its difficulty comes from the final /ps/ cluster, which requires precise timing to release /p/ and then immediately voiceless /s/ without inserting a vowel. The long /uː/ vowel also demands stable lip rounding and a tense jaw to avoid shortening to /u/ or /ʊ/. In fast speech, the word may blend into neighboring sounds, so clear, crisp articulation of /p/ + /s/ is essential. Focusing on the single-syllable rhythm helps maintain accuracy even at speed.
A unique trait is maintaining the short, sharp /ps/ ending after the long /uː/. Non-natives often lengthen or voice the /s/ or insert a vowel between /p/ and /s/. The correct pattern is a quick, unvoiced /p/ release directly into /s/, with the lips rounded for /uː/ from start to finish. Visualize the mouth shape for /uː/ and practice a short burst after the /p/ to land the final /s/ cleanly.
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Hoops comes from the Old English word hopa or hupa, meaning a ring or circle, with further development into the late Latin hoppus (not widely attested in standard lexicons). Its core semantic field—rings used for capture, decoration, or sport—expanded in Middle English to include the circular jewelry and the sport equipment associated with hoops. The modern basketball term emerged in American English in the early 20th century as hoops became the standard nickname for the hoops/basket structure on baskets, reflecting the circular metal rim and the net. The plural form hoops likely developed from the generic plural of rings, indicating multiple circular objects in use or manufacture. The word’s tonal and phonetic simplicity—one syllable, ending in /s/—has contributed to its rapid adoption across dialects. First known printed uses surface in 19th-century American sports commentary, though oral use predates written records by centuries, especially among communities familiar with hoop-and-stick games and hoop-shaped jewelry.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "hoops" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "hoops" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "hoops"
-ops sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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